Firstly, the field will no longer be playing Cottonwood Valley - the easier of the two courses used over the first two rounds.

And secondly, TPC Four Seasons, now host to all 72 holes, has undergone a list of lengthy changes.

They include the addition of 200 yards to take it to 7,166 from the back tees, the rebuilding of all 67 bunkers, the relocation of 165 trees and the reshaping off all 18 greens and their surrounds.

It certainly looks nicer after last year's scorched brown greens but how different it will play is a guessing game. There are some clues - local pro Harrison Frazar reckons the scores will be similar - but this is a week to tread carefully.

So, in theory, playing the first round leader market doesn't make much sense at first glance.

However, if a new layout creates a leveller playing field then there's a decent chance the best golfers will come to the fore at the expense of those who knew this place like the back of their hands e.g. last year's winner Scott Verplank.

The top-ranked golfer in the field this week is Adam Scott and, if we drill down, the reasons behind backing the Aussie to make a fast start begin to grow.

Two of Scott's US Tour wins have come in tournaments he was playing for the first time - Booz Allen and the Deutsche Bank - so he's quick to adapt to a new layout and lo and behold he proved it again in this event in 2006.

Making his debut, Scott flew out of the blocks with an opening 65 to share the round one lead with Steve Lowery. However, Scott shot his five-under at TPC Four Seasons, the harder course, so that was the more impressive effort.

At the time, it wasn't that common to see Scott race out of the gates but now it's become commonplace.

On his last start in Texas, he shot a sizzling 63 to lead the Houston Open while prior to the US Masters his end of day position after round one in his previous 10 starts read: 1-4-3-75-3-3-6-1-11-5.

He only turned one of those into victory so, currently, it seems a better bet to back Scott in the first round leader market.

He's 18/1 with Betfred to take day one honours again this week and that compares favourably to his outright odds of 12/1 although the likelihood of being tied is obviously greater over 18 holes rather than 72.

True, taking longer odds in this market is how most like to play it but Scott's recent record for fast starts is unusually good so he's worth a punt at 18s.

In the outright market, I shall put forward a few names at big prices - the first being Charley Hoffman.

Good iron players always used to come to the fore in this event and if it's still the case than Hoffman's third place in the greens in regulation stats has to bode well.

Up until the Houston Open, hitting greens in the right number wasn't doing him much good as he'd missed seven cuts in a row.

But a top six in Houston stopped the rot and proved again that he has a liking for Texas golf where his ability to handle windy conditions is often tested.

Hoffman was eighth in this event two years ago, 11th and eighth in the last two runnings of the Texas Open and also won the Permian Basin Classic in the 'Lone Star' state on the Nationwide Tour in 2004.

He's worth a go at 100/1.

The second outright pick is JJ Henry, who actually had an advisory role in the new course layout after having his local knowledge tapped by designer and former Tour pro D.A. Weibring.

Henry, a resident of nearby Fort Worth, christened the new course when he and Harrison Frazar beat U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Trip Kuehne and Dallas quarter-back Tony Romo 3&2.

We shouldn't overplay that but it is encouraging to read Henry's comments in the local Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Henry said: "I feel like I'm playing well. I'm definitely hitting the ball well. If I make some putts, hopefully, I'll be right there on Sunday."

And having helped with the course changes - Henry even has a bunker named after him! - he likes to think that he has "a little bit of an advantage" over the rest of the field.

Henry has taken time to come to terms with equipment changes this year but shot par or better in all four rounds when tied 26th in Houston on his last start.

Players can sometimes put too much pressure on themselves when playing in front of their home crowd but Henry has finished 13th, 13th and 10th in this event in the last three years so he's shown he can handle it.

And his one Tour win came at Hartford where he was born and raised and he described that tournament as his 'fifth major'.

A player who can be inspired when the crowds really get behind him, Henry is worth an each-way shout at 66/1 to put his extra course knowledge to the best possible use.

I'll close with what could be one of the most speculative punts I've ever suggested.

Remember Todd Hamilton?

The 2004 Open winner's career has gone south since his shock win at Troon but there may just be a few little signs that he's finding his feet again.

Although he missed the cut at Hilton Head last week, he'd finished a respectable tied 36th in the US Masters and tied 33rd in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in his two previous starts.

Adding a bit of detail, Hamilton was ranked the number one putter at Augusta while he was 11th in the putting stats in New Orleans.

He actually started the final round in New Orleans in a tie for eighth but lost heart when he didn't make the start he wanted to.

The main reason for considering him this week though is that he lives in Dallas, just 12 miles from the course.

Three years ago Hamilton made a real run at this title and went into the final round just one shot off the lead before falling away on Sunday.

Okay, the evidence is hardly compelling but there is enough there to have small punts at 500s outright and 225/1 for first round leader.