The 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open is underway at Memorial Park Golf Course, and with the Masters just two weeks away, the 144-player field is packed with contenders using this as their final tune-up before Augusta National. Here is everything you need to know about who is playing, who is peaking, and what to watch for this week in Houston.
The Field at a Glance
Defending champion Min Woo Lee returns as the betting favorite at +1300, looking to become the first player to win back-to-back Houston Opens since the tournament moved to Memorial Park. The Australian is coming off a solid stretch of form that includes multiple top-20 finishes since the turn of the year.
The headline entry this week is Brooks Koepka, who holds a special connection to Memorial Park having worked with architect Tom Doak on the course redesign that brought the Houston Open back to this venue. Koepka has shown encouraging signs since returning to the PGA Tour, including a T-13 at the Players Championship and a T-18 at the Valspar. At +2200, he represents intriguing value for a player who knows this course better than almost anyone in the field. Our recent profile on Koepka’s building form ahead of the Masters details why his trajectory is pointing sharply upward.
Chris Gotterup, currently ranked seventh in the world after a breakout 2026 featuring two PGA Tour wins, is the second favorite at +1600. Other notable contenders include Sam Burns (+2200), Jake Knapp (+2000), Sungjae Im, Rickie Fowler, Si Woo Kim, Gary Woodland, and Will Zalatoris.
The Big Absence: Scottie Scheffler
World number one Scottie Scheffler was originally in the field but withdrew on Tuesday ahead of the expected birth of his second child. Scheffler, who opened 2026 with his 20th PGA Tour victory and is the overwhelming Masters favorite at +300, is not expected to compete again before Augusta. His absence thins the field considerably but opens the door for others to build confidence heading into the year’s first major.
Why Memorial Park Matters for Masters Prep
Memorial Park Golf Course has become one of the most popular final stops before the Masters for good reason. The Doak redesign created a demanding test that rewards precision over power, with tight tree-lined fairways, firm greens, and strategic bunkering that forces players to think their way around the course rather than simply overpower it.
The putting surfaces at Memorial Park, while not as severe as Augusta’s famously undulating greens, share a similar emphasis on speed and precision. Players who putt well here tend to carry that confidence into the Masters. The course also rewards the kind of strategic course management that separates contenders from pretenders at Augusta National, making it an ideal competitive dress rehearsal.
The Houston Open has produced tight finishes in recent years, with the last two editions decided by a single shot. That kind of pressure down the stretch provides exactly the competitive intensity players want heading into major championship golf.
Five Players to Watch This Week
Brooks Koepka is the obvious storyline. His familiarity with Memorial Park and his recent run of improving results make him a genuine contender, not just a sentimental pick. The five-time major champion has historically peaked at the right moments, and the Houston-to-Augusta pipeline suits his preparation style perfectly.
Chris Gotterup arrives as one of the hottest players in the world. His two wins this season have cemented him as a legitimate Masters contender, and a strong showing in Houston would add even more momentum to a player who already looks like a future major champion.
Sam Burns has been knocking on the door all season and has the ball-striking numbers to contend on a course that demands accuracy. Will Zalatoris, who famously finished second at the 2021 Masters, will be looking to recapture that form after an injury-disrupted stretch. And Min Woo Lee has the local course knowledge and defending champion’s confidence that make him dangerous all week.
What This Means for Augusta
With the Masters just two weeks away, the Houston Open serves as both a competitive event in its own right and a form barometer for the year’s most anticipated major. A strong performance here, particularly under Sunday pressure, can provide the kind of momentum that carries a player through Magnolia Lane with genuine belief.
The absence of Scheffler and many of the game’s top-ten players means that this week’s winner will earn a significant confidence boost against a field that may be thinner than usual but is far from weak. In a sport where belief is everything, winning the week before a major has historically produced some of golf’s most memorable Masters stories.
How to Watch
The Texas Children’s Houston Open runs through Sunday, March 29 at Memorial Park Golf Course. Coverage is available on Golf Channel and CBS, with featured group streaming on PGA Tour Live via ESPN+. Tee times for rounds one and two begin at 7:10 a.m. CT on Thursday and Friday, with the weekend moving to preferred starting times off the first and tenth tees.
