2nd Apr 2013 | Valero Texas Open
Valero Texas Open Tips: Justin Hicks
Course should suit a player ranked in the top-20 on tour for GIRs and proximity to the hole.
Justin Hicks might have a hint of the journeyman golfer about him, but this is only his second full year on the PGA Tour. The 38-year-old has worked hard to reach his goal, as testified in his excellent article for golf.com where he describes the years spent cleaning clubs and collecting range balls to make ends meet.
After losing his card at the end of the 2011 season, Hicks is back in the big time and he’s making the most of it.
Currently ranked 13th on tour for GIRs and 12th for proximity to the hole with his approach shots, Hicks’s strength is his iron play. He doesn’t hit the ball particularly far, but he is consistent and the tougher the course the better he plays.
He famously led the 2008 US Open after the first round and although he fell back into the pack, it proved he can be competitive on a tough layout, just like the one he faces this week in Texas.
Having made 7/9 cuts, with a couple of top-25 finishes, he could spring a surprise at 250/1 (Skybet); back him each way and get ¼ odds for a top-5 finish.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 15:52 2nd Apr, 2013 but subject to change
