Houston, TX ….

Eight months ago, there was the sight of canoeists rowing down the first fairway of this week’s host Houston Open golf course.

Hurricane Harvey deluged America’s fourth largest city and with the Golf Club of Houston submerged under four-feet of water.

Among those praising the work to restore the course back to championship standard is the leading American duo of Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler.

Spieth, and a native of Dallas, missed the cut in the event a year ago but tees-up this week buoyed by memories of sharing second place in 2015 and a week prior to capturing the first of now three Majors.

Before and now .. Left the first fairway in August 2017 and on the right ahead of this week’s Houston Open.

“I’m excited to be back in Houston for sure and it’s amazing what — I haven’t been into the Houston area, but at least this far north how well it’s recovered from the hurricane, this golf course and just the areas right around it,” he said.

“The staff has obviously done a beautiful job getting this place ready.”

Spieth’s form of three years ago, however, is in contrast to his results this New Year with the World No. 4s best effort in the eight PGA Tour events he’s contested being a pair of ninths.

Indeed, Spieth has now won since capturing last July’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

“I just haven’t been able to quite do it,” said Spieth.

“It’s simple stuff, it’s setup stuff that just got off and I just haven’t quite figured out how to consistently get it back on. I’m getting there, putting a lot of work in. If it comes by next week or this week or next week, great. If it doesn’t, it will come soon.

Jordan Spieth making a point about his game this season (Photo @tourmiss)

“I’ve got 20-plus more years out here and a few months of setup stuff isn’t going to derail too much confidence.

“It has a little bit this year certainly, but I’m in a good place right now where I know I’ve got time on my side and these couple weeks aren’t the be-all, end-all of my career.

“Therefore, I’m not going to let it kind of take over me and need to, but I am going to put in a lot of work to be ready for it because I’m going to have some time to rest after. It’s getting there.”

Fowler found himself at the start of this week playing practice rounds ahead of the Masters at the Lochinvar Golf Course in Houston and the home course of his coach, Butch Harmon who was the former Head Pro at Lochinvar.

The Californian also undertook some undercoating work in a local community project undertaken to restore homes affected by Hurricane Harvey.

“It’s been a fun start to my week playing a few practice rounds with Butch at Lochinvar and I’ve also enjoyed being able to do some stuff with Farmers Insurance and the local St. Bernard Project on Monday morning, going and getting the hands dirty and doing some priming on the walls,” he said.

Rickie Fowler during today’s press Houston Open press conference. (Photo @tourmiss)

“It’s been fun to kind of have a connection with the city and to help out just that little bit following the damage caused by the hurricane.

“I’m not great with the paintbrush, but I’m not bad. I’m above average. I’m going to try and keep making birdies (smiling).”

But on a more serious note, Fowler heads to the first Major of the New Year boasting four seconds, a third and four fifth-places finishes at the game’s highest level.

“I’m trying to stay patient especially at Augusta, it’s not a place that you can try and push or try and make things happen,” he said.

“I guess it changes when you put yourself in position come the back nine on Sunday, then you might have to make something happen, but it’s a course that you have to — kind have to take what it gives you.

There’s times where you have to kind of take your medicine and play away. I think I’ve done a good job of that at Augusta but then I can do better, I think anyone can always do better.”

And while Poulter, Fowler and Justin Rose would seem favourite there is the reward for the winner of the Houston Open, and not already exempt into the Masters, to secure the very last Augusta National invitation.