Texas Children’s Houston Open Preview: Fitzpatrick Looks to Continue Momentum
Matt Fitzpatrick appeared poised for victory at THE PLAYERS Championship just over a week ago until Cameron Young’s birdie on the famous TPC Sawgrass 17th and a poor drive on 18. He quickly rebounded, securing a victory last weekend at the Valspar Championship. Fitzpatrick made a 15-foot birdie putt on the closing hole Sunday to hold on for a one-shot victory at 11-under par, defeating David Lipsky. Fellow Englishman Jordan Smith finished solo third. Xander Schauffele shot Sunday’s low round of 65 to finish tied for fourth along with Marco Penge and Sungjae Im, who led for the first three days of the tournament in his third event back from wrist surgery. Patrick Cantlay, Stephan Jaeger, Emiliano Grillo, and SH Kim finished tied for seventh.
The Event
The Houston Open’s history on the PGA TOUR dates to 1946. After years at various venues, the tournament returned to Memorial Park Golf Course last year for the first time since 1963. Golf legends including Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Curtis Strange, Raymond Floyd, Payne Stewart, Fred Couples, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson have all won here. Jim Crane, owner of the Houston Astros, saved the tournament from extinction several years ago and led fundraising for the major renovation of the city-owned Memorial Park course. The Astros Foundation operates the tournament, with Texas Children’s Hospital as the title sponsor.
The Field
135 players are competing this week at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, vying for a $9.9 million purse with $1.782 million going to the winner. Notably, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler withdrew from the field early Tuesday morning.
The Course
Memorial Park Golf Course hosted the Houston Open for the first time in 57 years in 2020. It is a municipal course owned by the city of Houston and is considered the top municipal track in Texas. A $34 million renovation, led by Tom Doak with assistance from Brooks Koepka, was completed in 2019.
Memorial Park plays as a Par 70 (5 Par 3s, 3 Par 5s, 10 Par 4s) of 7,475 yards, making it the second-longest non-major course on the PGA TOUR. Doak removed trees, bunkers (only 24 on the course – fewest on the PGA TOUR), and water hazards (only in play on four holes) to enhance playability.
The course features an all-Bermudagrass base that is overseeded with Poa trivialis on the greens. The rough has been changed from a penal 2.5” Bermuda to a more manageable 1.25” ryegrass. The greens average 7,000 sq ft and will be firm and fast, rolling around 12.5 on the stimpmeter. Many greens are elevated with run-off areas and false fronts.
Three of the five Par 3s are 200 yards or longer, and eight Par 4s are in the mid-400s in terms of yardage, with five approaching 500 yards. Comparable courses include Golf Club of Houston, Renaissance Club, Southern Hills, Quail Hollow, Congaree, Augusta National, Colonial, TPC Scottsdale, and Riviera.
Weather
Conditions are expected to be firm and fast this week in Houston, according to the AccuWeather forecast.
Recent Houston Open Winners
- 2025: Min Woo Lee (-20/260); 40/1
- 2024: Stephan Jaeger (-12/268); 50/1
- 2022: Tony Finau (-16/264); 22/1
- 2021: Jason Kokrak (-10/270); 50/1
- 2020: Carlos Ortiz (-13/267); 160/1
Statistical Analysis
Since the tournament’s return to Memorial Park, winners have demonstrated strong approach play:
- 2025: MW Lee +3.96 (14th)
- 2024: Jaeger +1.44 (37th)
- 2022: Finau +5.32 (9th)
- 2021: Kokrak +6.44 (2nd)
- 2020: Ortiz +3.48 (14th)
The course demands precision with approach shots due to the undulating greens. Long driving is too key, as is a strong short game, with approximately one-quarter of strokes gained coming around the green.