The PGA Tour heads to Texas this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open, with 156 players teeing it up at Memorial Park Golf Course from March 26–29. As the final full-field event before the Masters, the Houston Open has long served as a proving ground for players looking to sharpen their games ahead of the year’s first major — and this year’s field is loaded with contenders hoping to ride momentum into Augusta.
The tournament carries added significance in 2026, with several players using it as their final competitive tune-up before the biggest week in golf. Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s action in Houston.
The Course: Memorial Park Golf Course
Memorial Park Golf Course underwent a significant renovation in 2020 under the guidance of Tom Doak, transforming the historic municipal layout into a course worthy of PGA Tour competition. The redesign added strategic complexity while preserving the course’s parkland character, with mature trees lining the fairways and a mix of risk-reward holes that reward both power and precision.
At over 7,400 yards, the course plays long and demands accurate driving. The Bermuda grass greens can be tricky to read, particularly for players more accustomed to bentgrass putting surfaces. Wind can also be a factor, with the exposed layout susceptible to Texas gusts that can make club selection and shot shaping critical.
The course’s signature challenge is its demanding par-4s, several of which require precise tee shots to set up approach shots into well-protected greens. Players who can control their ball flight off the tee and dial in their iron play will have a significant advantage this week.
Key Players to Watch
While the Houston Open doesn’t carry the star power of a Signature Event, several notable players are in the field this week. Players on the bubble for Masters invitations will be particularly motivated, as a strong finish in Houston could secure their spot at Augusta National.
Valspar Championship runner-up David Lipsky could carry his form into Houston after coming so close to victory in Tampa. Players who perform well on demanding, longer courses tend to thrive at Memorial Park, making power players and accurate drivers worth watching closely throughout the week.
Several international players will also be in action, using the Houston event as their final warm-up before the Masters. The tournament’s Aon Next 10 and Swing 5 programs provide additional spots in the field, giving rising stars and overlooked talents an opportunity to make their mark on the PGA Tour stage.
Houston Open as Masters Prep
The Houston Open’s position on the calendar — just one week before the Masters — makes it a strategically important event for players with Augusta on their minds. Some top players choose to skip Houston entirely, preferring to use the week for practice and preparation at Augusta National. Others believe that competitive reps are the best way to stay sharp heading into a major.
Historically, the Houston-to-Augusta pipeline has produced some notable results. Several players have parlayed strong Houston performances into strong Masters weeks, using the competitive intensity and pressure situations of a PGA Tour event to fine-tune their games in ways that practice rounds simply can’t replicate.
The Bermuda grass at Memorial Park also provides a useful transition for players heading to Augusta, where the greens will be at their slickest for the tournament. Reading speed and break on unfamiliar surfaces is a skill that benefits from repetition under competitive conditions.
How to Watch
The Texas Children’s Houston Open will be broadcast across Golf Channel and CBS throughout the week, with streaming available through PGA Tour Live on ESPN+. Thursday and Friday coverage begins in the early afternoon Eastern time, with weekend rounds receiving expanded broadcast windows as the tournament reaches its conclusion.
With the Masters looming large over everything that happens this week, the Houston Open carries an energy and anticipation that extends well beyond the tournament itself. Keep an eye on how the contenders perform under pressure — the players who thrive in Houston this week could be the ones making noise at Augusta National come April.
