Golf fans are buzzing as the PGA Tour makes its comeback to the Houston Open, a hidden gem in the golfing world. 

This tournament, once a warm-up act for the Masters, has had its fair share of changes, now proudly known as the Texas Children's Houston Open. With the Florida Swing behind us, all eyes are now on Augusta National and the Masters, making this event the final tune-up for players before the big major. 

 

 

 

Defending champion Tony Finau faces tougher competition this time, with local favorite Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris, Wyndham Clark, Saheeth Theegala, and Jason Day all ready to make their mark in what promises to be an exciting tournament on the greens.

We'll dive into PGA DFS picks below, but first, let's take a look at the actual course itself along with the Houston Open field for 2024.

Memorial Park Golf Course Breakdown

The Houston Open is back at Memorial Park Golf Course, revamped in 2019 with a challenging par 70 layout stretching over 7,400 yards and featuring four water hazards and tricky elevation changes. The course redesign by Tom Doak, with input from Brooks Koepka, aimed to improve player experience while keeping the natural beauty intact, reducing sand hazards and adding tee boxes for more flexibility. 

Known for its tough rough, Memorial Park ranks among the PGA TOUR's toughest venues, requiring strategic ball-striking and savvy scrambling around the greens. Similar to Innisbrook's Copperhead course, it demands precision and smart play, especially with its lengthy par 4s. Driving accuracy and distance are key for scoring well. As the tournament returns, players need sharp tee shots and finesse around the greens to tackle this tough yet rewarding challenge.

 

 

 

Texas Children's Houston Open 2024 Field

Scottie Scheffler is on fire, aiming for a third straight win after his recent victory at THE PLAYERS Championship. With two wins already and consistently strong performances this season, he's definitely one to watch. Meanwhile, Wyndham Clark is out for redemption after narrowly missing victory at THE PLAYERS. Tony Finau hopes to defend his title in Houston, inspired by Vijay Singh's past success. 

Texan Will Zalatoris wants to bounce back from an early exit at THE PLAYERS, while Peter Malnati returns after his recent win at the Valspar Championship. Exciting newcomers like Sam Bennett and Cole Hammer are making their debut, while seasoned players like Ryan Palmer and Kris Ventura gear up for another shot. Padraig Harrington, fresh from a win on the PGA TOUR Champions, joins the lineup along with sponsor exemptions Adam Long, Dawie van der Walt, and Jimmy Walker. 

With the Masters on the horizon, players like Tom Hoge, Mackenzie Hughes, and Alex Noren are eager to secure their spots with strong finishes, adding to the buzz as the PGA TOUR season heats up in Houston.

 

 

 

PGA Stats To Know: 2024 Houston Open

Top SG: Tee-To-Green Targets

  • Scottie Scheffler - 1st on Tour
  • Si Woo Kim - 5th on Tour
  • Keith Mitchell - 6th on Tour
  • Wyndham Clark - 8th on Tour
  • Joel Dahmen - 12th on Tour

Top SG: Approach Targets

  • Scottie Scheffler - 1st on Tour
  • Tom Hoge - 2nd on Tour
  • Ryan Moore - 4th on Tour
  • Will Zalatoris - 6th on Tour
  • Joel Dahmen - 8th on Tour

Top SG: Off-The-Tee Targets

  • Scottie Scheffler - 1st on Tour
  • Cameron Champ - 3rd on Tour
  • Alejandro Tosti - 7th on Tour
  • Keith Mitchell - 9th on Tour
  • Si Woo Kim - 13th on Tour

Best Course History

  • Scottie Scheffler - 2nd, 9th, 32nd (3 of 3 Cuts)
  • Joel Dahmen - 5th & 9th (2 of 3 Cuts)
  • Jason Day - 2 Top 10s & 1 Top 20 (4 of 6 Cuts)
  • Tony Finau - Defending Champ, 2 Top 25s & Top 35 (5 of 7 Cuts)
  • Mackenzie Hughes - 1 Top 10, 1 Top 20, & 2 Top 30s (4 of 5 Cuts)

My Best Bets (12-25 Overall, -5.10 Units)

  • Mackenzie Hughes: Top 30 (+115)
  • Billy Horschel: Top 30 (+125)
  • Joel Dahmen: Top 30 (+140)

One & Done Play

  • Mackenzie Hughes

 

 

 

PGA DFS Picks: Houston Open

Top-Price Core Plays

Scottie Scheffler ($13,000)

I don't think it's a good idea to use Scottie Scheffler every week, no matter what. But when it comes to golf courses, my opinion changes. Sure, there might be times you want to bet against him, but Texas isn't one of them. Even before he switched putters, Scheffler was killing it on over-seeded Bermuda greens, winning five times on similar ones at TPC Scottsdale, TPC Sawgrass, and Austin Country Club. 

Memorial Park is another place where his touch around the greens really shines, and his short game is top-notch compared to others playing. Don't let his price scare you off either. There are plenty of other guys priced below him, especially in the $5,000 range. 

Plus, Scheffler has a solid track record here, coming in ninth in 2022 and second the year before. He's also coming off a big win at TPC Sawgrass, so he's got momentum. And let's not forget, he even set the course record here with a 62 back in 2021. So yeah, Scheffler's definitely one to watch.

Sahith Theegala ($10,300)

In 2024, Theegala displayed remarkable consistency and enhanced performance. His victory at the Fortinet Championship during the fall season was just the beginning. With three top 10 finishes in his last four starts, including Phoenix, Bay Hill, and Sawgrass, Theegala has proven his prowess on the course. 

Moreover, his putting game has seen a significant improvement, with him gaining over a stroke in putting across six consecutive events. The wider fairways in upcoming tournaments are poised to play to his advantage, particularly addressing one of his weaker areas - keeping the ball in the fairway. Notably, in his previous visit to Memorial Park, Theegala impressed with a final-round score of 64, securing a tied 22nd position back in 2022.

Si Woo Kim ($9,700)

This week, driving well is key. In 2022, Tony Finau rocked it by leading in Fairways gained and Good Drive %, plus he nailed it on the greens. Now, Kim's driving like a champ too (5th in strokes gained off the tee and 2nd in Good Drive %), but he's still working on his putting game. But hey, there's hope! Last time at TPC Sawgrass, he landed a sweet T6 finish, gaining 4.8 strokes putting. 

Sure, Kim's putting hasn't been stellar this season, but maybe things are looking up. He's solid tee-to-green, almost as good as Scheffler, and he's had some good runs in Texas before. With his putting getting better, a big win wouldn't be a shocker. Kim's been playing solid golf all year and seems due for a win, especially with the Masters coming up and the competition a bit lighter this week.

 

 

 

Mid-Price Core Plays

Stephan Jaeger ($8,900)

In 2024, Stephan Jaeger's mix of steady play and a bit more risk-taking has been paying off. He's become one of the tour's most versatile golfers without much fanfare. Before the Florida Swing, where he's eager to perform, he snagged a couple of impressive T3 finishes. 

It's hard to pinpoint any major flaws in Jaeger's game; he's up there with the best in carry distance, hitting close from long distances, recent short game finesse, lag putting, and overall performance on lengthy courses. Plus, he's shown promise at Memorial Park with finishes of T35 and T9 in just two outings. It feels like a safe bet that Jaeger will make the cut and likely land another top-30 finish. I'm counting on him to make waves once again in Houston.

Billy Horschel ($8,300)

Billy Horschel's in the mix for a shot at Augusta this year, but time's ticking for him. He's been stepping up his game lately, with a decent T9 at the Cognizant and a solid T12 at the Valspar. However, his stats look better than his actual scores in the season's first seven events, especially struggling around the greens. 

Still, he's doing well in other areas, ranking high in strokes gained, like 17th in putting and eighth overall. After his good run at the Valspar, he might be hitting his peak just in time for the first major of the year. He's got experience here, finishing second in 2013. The big question is if he can keep up against tougher competition, with a few top-20 players looking stronger. 

He's currently 87th in the world rankings and might need a big win or a close runner-up to crack the top 50. That's a tall order, but this course suits him well, especially in a weaker field. He's good at hitting greens and avoiding bogeys, so he's got a shot.

Mackenzie Hughes ($7,800)

Mackenzie Hughes has been quietly playing some solid golf lately. He's finished T31 or better in four of his last five starts. Even though he's not known for hitting it far, he was close to winning the Valspar last week, ending up in a tie for 3rd. His short game is on point, and he's been hitting the ball better, especially in his last three events. 

Hughes has done well on long tracks before, landing in the top 20 in 2022 and 2020. He's a bit of a risk, but his recent form and history at this course make him a good deal at just $7,800.

 

 

 

Value-Price Core Plays

Joel Dahmen ($7,100)

Joel Dahmen is likely to be a big favorite this week. His iron game has been on fire lately, and he's got a great track record at this event, finishing T5 and T9 in his two previous appearances. He's leading the pack in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green per round, even ahead of Scottie Scheffler. 

Dahmen has been making cuts, with a solid T11 at THE PLAYERS recently, thanks to his strong approach shots. In his last two outings, he's gained a whopping 13.4 strokes on approach. While his putting and short game might be a bit shaky, his price in the $7,000s makes him a steal this week. The odds at the DK Sportsbook also suggest he's a good bet.

Joseph Bramlett ($6,600)

Joseph Bramlett is doing pretty well compared to others in this field, except for long approach shots. He's coming off a strong T17 finish at Valspar, his third cut made in four starts with two top-25 finishes in his last five outings. 

Bramlett is a rare combo of a big hitter off the tee who doesn't rack up many bogeys, making him a steal this week at just $6,600. He's had two top-25s in 2024, tackling tough courses like Torrey Pines and Copperhead last week. Plus, he nabbed a ninth-place tie here two years back.

Dylan Wu ($6,100)

Dylan Wu's season has been a rollercoaster, but he's been doing better lately, landing three finishes of T26 or higher in his last four events. He's accurate off the tee (36th in accuracy) rather than a long hitter (109th in driving distance). Wu shines in putting, ranking 19th in strokes gained: putting and 56th in total strokes gained in the field. 

Lately, his approach play has been solid, gaining +1.24 strokes on approach per round at THE PLAYERS and +0.95 at the Valspar Championship. Even though he's not a big hitter, Wu performs well in most other key metrics in this field.

Player Pool

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Stacks

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