The PGA Tour heads to the Lone Star State for the Texas Children’s Houston Open at the beautifully renovated Memorial Park Golf Course. This municipal gem—revitalized by Tom Doak in 2019—returns as host for the sixth straight year, delivering a long, bomber-friendly test that rewards power off the tee while demanding precision on approaches and around the greens. Fresh off the Florida Swing, the field is stacked with contenders chasing momentum two weeks before the Masters, though World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has withdrawn for family reasons.
Venue & Schedule
Memorial Park Golf Course sits at 1001 East Memorial Loop Drive in Houston’s historic Memorial Park, just minutes from downtown. Originally opened in 1912 and transformed into a world-class municipal layout by the Astros Golf Foundation and architect Tom Doak (with input from Brooks Koepka), it features wide fairways, strategic contours, and only 21 bunkers—creating a playable yet demanding parkland-style track.
Full tournament schedule (all times CDT):
Thursday, March 26: Round 1 – First tee ~7:20 a.m.; coverage begins ~8:15 a.m. EDT (Golf Channel/NBC Sports App)
Friday, March 27: Round 2
Saturday, March 28: Round 3 – Coverage shifts to NBC/Peacock in afternoon window
Sunday, March 29: Final Round – Coverage 1-6 p.m. EDT (Golf Channel early, NBC/Peacock later)
Purse: $9.9 million (winner’s share ~$1.78 million). Field: 135–144 players. Broadcast: Golf Channel, NBC, Peacock, and ESPN+ for featured groups/holes.
Weather Conditions
Early spring in Houston delivers near-perfect golf weather for 2026. Expect warm, mostly dry conditions with highs in the mid-80s °F (28–31°C) and lows in the low-60s °F. Humidity stays comfortable (~40–60%), and rainfall chances are minimal (0–10%).
Round 1 (Thu): High ~86°F, winds 10–15 mph (gusts to 20 mph), 0% rain chance.
Round 2 (Fri): High ~88°F, similar light winds.
Round 3 (Sat): High ~80°F, 10% chance of isolated showers.
Final Round (Sun): High ~82°F, winds 10–15 mph.
Track will play firm and fast with minimal weather interruptions—ideal for scoring but testing ball-striking in the breeze.
Course Conditions & SetupLength: 7,475 yards
Par: 70 (five par 3s, three par 5s)
Course record (recent): 62 (multiple players, including Scheffler and Finau in prior rounds)
72-hole record: 260 (−20) by Min Woo Lee in 2025 Memorial Park plays long and open but has softened in its spring slot. Fairways and rough are overseeded with ryegrass (rough cut to a forgiving 1.25″ vs. penal Bermuda in fall setups), allowing aggressive play from the rough without flyers. Greens are Poa trivialis, running 12–13 on the Stimpmeter—firm yet receptive. Only ~21 bunkers and limited water (four holes) emphasize driving distance and iron accuracy over pure survival. Key stats for success: Strokes gained off-the-tee, approach play, and scrambling. Wide landing areas favor bombers, but the layout rewards course management and short-game touch. Expect scoring conditions similar to recent years (field average around +0.30 per round historically, but spring agronomy has made it more scorable).
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Tournament History & Houston Lore
The Houston Open dates back decades, with legends like Arnold Palmer, Vijay Singh (three wins), Curtis Strange, and Phil Mickelson claiming titles. Since returning to Memorial Park in 2020, it has produced exciting finishes and first-time winners:
2025: Min Woo Lee (−20) – dramatic final-round hold-off of Scheffler and Gary Woodland.
2024: Stephan Jaeger (−12).
2022–23: Tony Finau (back-to-back runner-up in between).
The course’s municipal roots and Doak redesign have made it a fan favorite—fast rounds for everyday players, yet a stern test for pros. Pole position (or tee time) matters less here than sustained ball-striking over four days.
Recent Player Forms & 2026 Season Context
With Scheffler out, the spotlight shifts to the defending champion and a mix of veterans and rising stars:
Min Woo Lee (defending champ): Fresh off his breakthrough 2025 victory here. Lee has been solid early 2026 and knows the layout intimately—expect him near the top of the board.
Chris Gotterup: One of the hottest young guns; elite off the tee and multiple wins already this season. Fits the course perfectly.
Brooks Koepka: Multiple top-20s recently; Memorial Park was part of his redesign input—look for him to contend.
Sam Burns, Jake Knapp, Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler: All in strong recent form or with course history. Locals like Bronson Burgoon (sponsor exemption) add Texas flavor.
Midfield and underdogs (e.g., Kurt Kitayama, Nicolai Højgaard) have shown flashes of brilliance in 2026. The field lacks the absolute top tier due to some resting for Augusta, creating opportunity.
Key Player Matchups to Watch
Min Woo Lee vs. the field: Can the Aussie defend on a course he dominated last year?
Chris Gotterup vs. long-hitters (Koepka, Knapp): Who wins the distance battle and converts it into birdies?
Veterans (Burns, Scott, Fowler) vs. youth: Experience on this wide-open track could trump raw power.
Local knowledge: Bronson Burgoon and other Texans vs. out-of-towners unfamiliar with Memorial Park’s nuances.
Betting Trends
Trends favor players strong in driving distance + approach (SG: Off-the-Tee and Approach). Top-20 finishes are popular props for consistent ball-strikers like Koepka or Lee. Expect low scores and plenty of movement on the leaderboard—ideal for live betting on birdie streaks.
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Final Thoughts
The Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park promises birdie fests, dramatic Sunday charges, and a chance for a new name—or repeat heroics from Min Woo Lee—to shine under Houston’s spring sun. With forgiving rough, firm greens, and a star-studded yet approachable field, this is prime PGA Tour entertainment before the Masters spotlight.
