2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open Odds, Sleeper Picks: Francesco Molinari & Adam Long Among 5 Longshots to Bet

At this time of year, it takes a lot for a PGA TOUR event to make its mark on the sports landscape. This week’s tournament — the Cadence Bank Houston Open — has as good a chance to do so as any other event, with a few stars atop the field and an event in a major city that dates back to the 1940s.

This marks just the third time the Houston Open has been played at Memorial Park Golf Course, offering bettors less background information than we’d typically have on hand.

Despite that, there are plenty of players making waves throughout the TOUR’s fall events that could strike and find a win this week in Texas. These five sleepers have a chance to steal a victory on Sunday:

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Joel Dahmen +4500 (DraftKings)

Forgive me if this doesn’t qualify as a sleeper in your book. I simply can’t avoid taking Dahmen given the run he’s on this fall. After missing the cut at the season opener in Napa, Dahmen found something. He was T13 at the Sanderson Farms, T37 at the Shriners and T16  at the ZOZO.

Last week, he played his best golf yet, firing a weekend 66-65 to finish in a tie for third place.

Whatever the PGA TOUR has played for the fall series of events after this season, Dahmen’s run is the kind that second-tier players will be trying to emulate.

On top of that, he’s played this event at this venue once and was in the top five last season. Say no more, he’s on my card.

Adam Long +10000 (DraftKings)

This event has been played at Memorial Park in each of the last two years. Only two players have been in the top 15 at each of those events: Sam Burns and Adam Long.

Clearly he feels comfortable at this venue, which should help a player who has played well over the last few months without breaking through with a great finish. He has been T30 or better in half of his last 10 starts, without a top ten in that span.

Luke List +10000 (DraftKings)

The field this week may not be the best on TOUR, but it has plenty of heavy hitters and consummate professionals. Among this week’s field, over the last 12 months, Luke List has posted the fourth-best strokes gained per round, according to metrics from Data Golf.

That is not a small sample size and speaks to just how good List has been at getting the ball in the hole over the last year.

He’s also played well here in Houston, having notched a T11 last season. List enters having played alright recently, making three straight cuts despite a cold putter. I like his chances in Houston.

Francesco Molinari +12500 (BetRivers)

I tabbed Molinari as a sleeper last week, which looked like an absolute home run on Thursday night. He carded a first round 64, poised to compete over the weekend. Instead, he leaked oil the rest of the way, carding 70-77-75, good for 68^th place.

That certainly isn’t the outcome Molinari hoped for, though it could provide something to build upon. He was T15 at this venue just two seasons ago. If the swing that led to the 64 last week can persist longer than one round, he can top that mark this time around.

Kramer Hickock +30000 (DraftKings)

It doesn’t seem like the right time to back Hickock, having missed four cuts in a row. There’s a few small reasons for optimism, however, and they make just enough of a case to like him at this number.

His missed cuts have not been egregious this fall. He shot four straight rounds of 70 at the Shriners and Bermuda, but in both cases that was enough to send him packing. With a few breaks, either of those could have been great chances to build on his top 25 finish at the Fortinet Championship to kick off the season.

Though his momentum screeched to a half, this week could be his chance to bounce back, returning to a course where he finished in the top-five last season.

Most other books have him listed at +20000. Once you’re over a certain threshold, a difference like that can feel meaningless, but in the hunt for a sleeper pick, those are the margins where money is made.