Texas Children's Houston Open: Course Breakdown, Predictions & Selections
The PGA Tour heads to Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, a challenging par-70 layout stretching over 7,400 yards. Known for its strategic bunkering, undulating greens, and demanding par-3s, Memorial Park rewards precision off the tee and a sharp short game. Players who can scramble well and control their iron play will have the upper hand.
What to Expect This Week
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Ball Strikers’ Paradise: The course doesn’t favor bombers alone—approach play and putting will be crucial.
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Par-3s & Par-5s Matter: The long par-3s (especially the 15th at 240+ yards) will separate contenders, while birdie opportunities on the par-5s (3rd & 8th) must be capitalized on.
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Weather Watch: Wind can be a factor in Houston, so look for players with a history of controlling trajectory in breezy conditions.
Predictions
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Top Contender: Min Woo Lee (-4, 66) – A great start from the Aussie. If his short game holds up, he could be in contention all weekend.
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Bounce Back Candidate: Max Greyserman (+4, 74) – He’ll need a big second round to avoid an early exit.
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Sneaky Pick: Danny Willett (-1, 69) – The veteran Englishman is coming off an injury but has a major pedigree and can grind his way up the leaderboard.
Selections Recap – Round 1 Scores
| Player | OWGR | Round 1 Score |
|---|---|---|
| Min Woo Lee | 55 | 66 (-4) |
| Karl Vilips | 115 | 68 (-2) |
| C.T. Pan | 129 | 69 (-1) |
| Danny Willett | 378 | 69 (-1) |
| Gary Woodland | 186 | 69 (-1) |
| Thomas Detry | 26 | 69 (-1) |
| Wyndham Clark | 11 | 69 (-1) |
| Beau Hossler | 87 | 70 (E) |
| Jason Day | 35 | 70 (E) |
| Sahith Theegala | 22 | 70 (E) |
| Stephan Jaeger | 44 | 70 (E) |
| Tony Finau | 32 | 70 (E) |
| Alex Smalley | 121 | 71 (+1) |
| Davis Thompson | 43 | 71 (+1) |
| J.J. Spaun | 27 | 71 (+1) |
| Jacob Bridgeman | 70 | 72 (+2) |
| Aaron Rai | 25 | 73 (+3) |
| Nick Taylor | 29 | 73 (+3) |
| Max Greyserman | 40 | 74 (+4) |
Unfortunately, Erik forgot to submit a pick, so he falls under the Sutton Fine Rule.
With plenty of players within striking distance, Friday’s second round will be crucial in separating contenders from those heading home early. Stay tuned for more updates!
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