After celebrating the Champions Tour version of Spring Break, the tour picks up again with the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in the Houston area. By looking at the field, the senior set is ready to get back to work.
Of the 36 top money winners on tour, 32 of them are planning on playing at the event, including No. 5 Bernhard Langer. He is the 5/1 favorite to win the event, according to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.
Langer is usually at the top of the betting board and for good reason. He has finished second three times this season, including his last two events. He also has another top 10 finish. The 60 year old does not think he is a slam dunk to win this and knows the strong field will be competitive.
“To win I am going to have to play very, very good from start to finish, and I have to play well with all of the clubs in the bag,” Langer said. “It’s that kind of golf course. You’ve got to drive it straight, hit some good irons, and definitely make some putts because the greens are nice. That’s the only way to win.”
Long Odds for Defending Champion
John Daly won this event last year by a stroke over Tommy Armour III and Kenny Perry. Despite being defending champion he is listed at 50/1 to repeat.
It was his first, and only, victory on the Champions Tour, and broke a winless streak that stretched back to the 2004 Buick Invitational.
“It was a great win (last year),” Daly said Wednesday. “I had a few top-10s on the senior Tour my first year but nothing like having the adrenaline that I’m going to win a golf tournament, or like being in the final group or anything like that. So it felt really good.”
The 51 year old, two-time major championship winner, believes this is a good course for him.
“This has always been a special place,” Daly said. “I always seem to feel like I’m going to play good here. It’s a golf course that suits my game. The greens are always perfect. The fans are awesome, like everywhere we go, but there’s just something special about The Woodlands that I just feel like it’s a golf course that just gives me confidence, and the greens are always so good.”
Others to Watch
Jerry Kelly is behind Langer at 8/1. The second-year Champions Tour player is making his inaugural debut at the Insperity. In his sophomore season Kelly has followed up on his successful rookie 2017 campaign, where he won twice.
He has won once already this year and has three additional top 10 finishes, including his last two events.
A longshot to consider might be Scott Parel. He is listed at 20/1 and has had impressive outings his last three tournaments. He tied for 10th, second and third. He also has an unofficial victory in January at the Diamond Resorts Invitational.