Your Ultimate Guide to the PGA Tour’s Masters Warm-Up

The Texas Children’s Houston Open isn’t just another PGA Tour stop—it’s the final proving ground before Augusta. With a star-studded field, a revamped course, and Masters fever in the air, here’s everything you need to know.

Why This Tournament Matters

• Last Stop Before The Masters: Players are fine-tuning their games under major-championship pressure.
• Elite Field: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy (fresh off his Players win), defending champ Stephan Jaeger, and crowd favorites like Tony Finau and Wyndham Clark.
• McIlroy’s Debut: Surprisingly, this is Rory’s first Houston Open—will he ride his Players momentum to another W?

Course Spotlight: Memorial Park Golf Course

• Par 70, 7,475 yards – A beast with teeth.
• Redesigned in 2019 by Tom Doak (with Brooks Koepka’s input). Expect:
  • Brutal rough and lightning-fast greens
  • Risk-reward holes that separate contenders from pretenders
• Houston’s signature test: Long hitters thrive, but precision wins.

How to Watch

📅 Dates: March 27–30
📺 TV Coverage:

• Thu/Fri: Golf Channel (4–7 PM ET)
• Sat/Sun: Golf Channel (1–3 PM ET) → NBC (3–6 PM ET)
  💻 Streaming: PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ (starting at 8:15 AM ET Thurs/Fri, 11 AM ET weekends)

Players to Watch

🔥 Scottie Scheffler: World No. 1 seeks momentum before defending his Masters title.
🇮🇪 Rory McIlroy: The Players champ makes his Houston debut—will he complete the “Masters prep” double?
🛡️ Stephan Jaeger: Defending champ ready to silence doubters.
💣 Sahith Theegala & Min Woo Lee: Young guns with the swagger to steal the show.

Storylines to Follow

• Masters Auditions: Who’s peaking at the right time?
• Rory’s Quest: Can he carry Players momentum into April?
• Dark Horses: Memorial Park rewards creativity—watch for a surprise contender.

Final Thought: The Houston Open isn’t just a tournament—it’s a sneak peek at who’s ready for Augusta. Don’t miss a shot.

P.S. – Scheffler vs. McIlroy vs. Jaeger? Yes, please. 🍿