Tag: Memorial Park Golf Course

Houston Astros colors blanket merchandise tent at 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

What a week to be a resident of Houston.

What a week to be a resident of Houston.

Not only is the PGA Tour’s 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open in town, the Astros have their Opening Day game Thursday afternoon against the New York Yankees, and the Houston Cougars men’s basketball team is in the Sweet 16 of March Madness.

Sports are awesome, aren’t they?

But the Houston Astros have their fingerprints all over the Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course, a municipal facility about 5 miles west of downtown. The Astros Golf Foundation runs the tournament, and the logo has the same colors as do the Major League Baseball team.

The merchandise tent also has a heavy Astros flair, with orange, blue and white shirts, hats, pullovers and plenty more.

Here’s a look at the best merchandise at the Texas Children’s Houston Open:

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Scores at the Texas Children’s Houston Open could be lower than ever. Here’s why

The Texas Children’s Houston Open is different this year. And that’s not a bad thing.

HOUSTON — Fans tuning in to the Houston Open this week are in for plenty of changes since the last time the tournament was held.

First, there’s a new title sponsor: Texas Children’s Hospital. Previous sponsors include Shell, Vivint, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Cadence Bank, but this is the first of a five-year partnership for Texas Children’s and the Houston Open. There will also be increased purses for the duration of the contract.

Then, it’s being played at a new time of year for the first time at Memorial Park Golf Club, site of the tournament since 2020. For three years, it was part of the fall schedule. After having no tournament in 2023, it moved to the slot WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play used to occupy in the new PGA Tour schedule.

Although the venue is the same, the golf course is completely different.

Houston Open: Odds, picks to win | Photos

“Back in the fall it was playing quite fast, the ball was running, the
greens were firm,” defending champion Tony Finau said. “I don’t think that’s going to be the case as much this week.”

In the past, the Houston Open at Memorial Park rewarded accuracy off the tee because of thick rough. This year, there’s not as big of a premium for finding the fairway because the course was overseeded with ryegrass. Then there are the greens, which as Finau alluded to, can be challenging if the course speeds up.

2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
Signage near the 16th green during a practice round prior to the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on March 27, 2024, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

This week, however, someone who is strong with their iron game is likely to rise to the top.

“It used to be some holes where it was really, really important to hit
the fairway, especially with the Bermuda rough,” World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said. “Now there’s not as much of a premium placed on that. You’ll see a lot more drivers, people hitting it really far and it will be much
more of I’d say a second shot golf course this time around.”

In 2022, Finau set the tournament scoring record at Memorial Park, shooting 16-under 264 for the week. Players think there’s a good chance that is broken this week.

“I would say it’s going to play a little bit easier,” World No. 4 Wyndham Clark said. “In the fall it was very tough because you would hit it in the rough and it was so hard to judge lies. And then around the greens was, you would have into the grain, dormant Bermuda so you could get some squirrely shots. So I predict that scores will be lower than what they normally are in the fall.”

Numerous golfers in the field are using this week as final preparations for Augusta National and the Masters, which is in two weeks.

Scheffler, who donned the green jacket in 2022, said he was surprised with a lack of rough and said they’re probably trying to make it like Augusta National, which he doesn’t mind for his prep.

The 17th hole was also changed, and when the tee is moved up, it makes the green more enticing for players to go for it in two.

Last week’s champion, Peter Malnati, had high praise for the municipal course, saying it looks more like a high-end country club and not a course the public can play any day, any time.

“It’s a completely different course,” Malnati said of the fall-to-spring change. “I think I’d probably possibly be in the minority of Tour players who would say this, but I kind of love the fact that it did have a bit of a muni feel. It felt like a course that any Houstonian could just come out and play, and that’s not something we really get on Tour a lot. We tend to play perfectly manicured, you know, country club-type feeling courses that are just in immaculate condition.

“That’s not how this course has been when we played it in the fall. It’s been a little rough around the edges. This year it looks much more like what we’re used to on the PGA Tour. It’s immaculate, no blade of grass out of place and that’s obviously a really good thing. Huge compliment to the staff here for the job they’ve done to get this that way.”

The Texas Children’s Houston Open is different this year. And that’s not a bad thing.

“It’s aesthetically a lot prettier because normally it’s a little more dormant when we play it,” Clark said. “They’ve done an awesome job, the course is in amazing shape, it looks amazing.”

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Photos: Best shots from the PGA Tour’s 2024 Texas Chlidren’s Houston Open

It’s time for a Texas two-step.

It’s time for a Texas two-step.

After a month in Florida, the PGA Tour is in Houston for the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course, a municipal layout nestled roughly five miles west of downtown. It’s the first playing of the tournament since November 2022, when Tony Finau set a tournament scoring record in his victory.

Finau is back to defend his title, but also in the field is Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 who has won his last two starts at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship, and Wyndham Clark, who has finished runner-up at both events.

Here’s a look at the best photos from the Texas Children’s Houston Open:

Why Peter Malnati thinks his emotional Valspar win resonated with so many people

“They want to see people who are the best in the world at what they do, do it at a high level and celebrate that.”

HOUSTON — From the moment his final putt dropped, tears were dancing down Peter Malnati’s face.

Last Sunday, he picked up his first PGA Tour win in nine years. He got to celebrate with his 4-year-old son, Hatcher, on the green.

“That’s something that I’ve seen other families have and that has been my dream,” Malnati said through his tears Sunday. “If I had never had the moment I had today, I would have been completely fine. But, man, was that special.”

In professional golf, one week can alter someone’s life drastically. That happened last week for Malnati, 36, and one of the Tour’s player directors. And the emotional celebration enthralled fans.

Instead of taking a week off, Malnati is in the field this week at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course. During his pre-tournament press conference Wednesday, he was asked about whether he was aware why his win resonated.

His response was thorough and from the heart.

“I think at the end of the day — do you remember like we can all probably remember when we were kids, and we were all kids at different times, but the things that moved us that we watched,” Malnati said. “I remember watching Jordan and the ’97 Bulls, I remember watching Tiger in the 2000 Masters. I didn’t care one iota what Jordan’s contract was. I didn’t care one iota what the winner’s check at that U.S. Open was.

“And I think people are sick of that. I think people are just sick of the narrative in golf being about, you know, contracts on LIV, purses on the Tour, guaranteed comp on the Tour. I think people are so sick of that. They want to see sport, they want to see — they want to see people who are the best in the world at what they do do it at a high level and celebrate that, celebrate the athleticism, celebrate the achievement. Obviously this is a business and to the top players who drive a lot of the value in this business, we’ve got to compensate them fairly, we’ve got to make that happen.”

2024 Valspar Championship
Peter Malnati accepts the Valspar Championship Trophy after the final round of the Valspar Championship at Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 24, 2024 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

“But I think we’re doing that above and beyond, and the narrative, the storylines, the conversation needs to come back to the product on the course and what we do. I think for me that was like I just, I just feel like no kid dreamed when they were watching Jordan dreamed of having his salary, they didn’t care about that. They dreamed of being in that moment, hitting that shot. I think that’s what our fans care about, too, and that’s what they want to see. I hope those tears that I was crying on that 18th green had nothing to do with my share of that, what was it, an $8.4 million purse last week. My tears had nothing to do with my share of that. I’m going to enjoy it and we’re going to use it to do a lot of good in this world, but it had nothing to do with that. And I don’t think our fans care about that either.

“I hope that connected with some people and I hope that that can be — I do think everyone out here who plays and competes would agree with me on that. I just hope that can be the story that we tell can come back to the best athletes in the world competing on the biggest stage in the world and doing it to show off this amazing skill that we have that can be so entertaining for people. I want that to be our story.”

Malnati hasn’t been shy about where he thinks the game is at or headed. However, his performance and reaction last week speaks a lot more than words ever can.

Scottie Scheffler has a chance to join exclusive company at 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

“I don’t really think much about that kind of stuff.”

HOUSTON — Scottie Scheffler can add his name to the PGA Tour record books in yet another way this week.

If Scheffler were to win the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course, he would become the first player in seven years to win in three straight starts, and he would be the first in a decade to win three straight stroke-play events.

Dustin Johnson won three straight tournaments in 2017 during a stretch that included the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play event. In 2014, Rory McIlroy won three straight stroke-play events, starting with the Open Championship and closing with the PGA Championship.

Scheffler can join that duo after consecutive wins at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship, the latter becoming the first player ever to win back-to-back tournaments at TPC Sawgrass. But that’s not on the forefront of his mind.

2024 Players Championship
Scottie Scheffler celebrates with the trophy after winning during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass on March 17, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

“I don’t really think much about that kind of stuff,” Scheffler said. “I had a good rest week at home last week. I was pretty worn out after Bay Hill and Players, so it was nice to get home and just relax. I didn’t do nearly as much practice as I typically would have in the last week, so coming in shaking off a little bit of rust the last couple days. But game feels like it’s in a good spot, so I feel rested and ready to go this week.”

Scheffler and rust don’t belong in the same sentence, but if the world No. 1 is indeed trying to find his groove two weeks before the Masters, Memorial Park is a good place to do it.

The municipal course in Houston has been a part of the PGA Tour’s fall schedule in previous years, but the course is plenty different being played in the spring. Players have commented on how the rough is lighter, and the premium for hitting the fairway isn’t as high as it used to be. Scores could be lower than in past tournaments.

Scheffler finished T-9 in Houston in the fall of 2022. The year before, he tied for second and fired a course-record 8-under 62 in the second round (Tony Finau tied the record last year in his winning effort).

2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open
Scottie Scheffler takes a tee shot on the first hole during the third round of the Cadence Bank Houston Open golf tournament. (Photo: Erik Williams/USA TODAY Sports)

Don’t expect the challenge to go away with the move to the spring, Scheffler warned.

“With the way the greens are elevated and with the runoffs and with the way the rough was, you had to hit fairways (in the past),” Scheffler said. “Now there’s not as much of a premium on that. I think we’re supposed to get some pretty good winds over the weekend. The golf course is still really, really challenging. I think it’s just going to be challenging in a different way this year.”

The Texas Children’s Houston Open is the first of four events in the state of Texas in the next couple months. Scheffler, who went to school at the University of Texas and lives in Dallas, enjoys playing in events close to home.

His schedule is fluid the next couple months because he and his wife, Meredith, are expecting their first child in April. But even after a couple exhausting weeks in Florida, he didn’t want to pass up playing in the Lone Star State before the first major championship of the year.

“I like trying to support as many events as I can in my home state,” Scheffler said. “I definitely am a proud Texas, and so I like to do what I can to support the events here at home. Yeah, it’s good to be back. I don’t know what my schedule will be like going forward, but I definitely like to try and support the events here in Texas as much as I can.”

Wyndham Clark nursing back injury ahead of 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

“So just in a short time I’ve improved a ton, and I think I’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

HOUSTON — If it weren’t for Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark may have three victories in as many months to begin the 2024 PGA Tour season.

The World No. 4 won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am thanks to his third round 12-under 60, a new course record at the famed links. In his previous two starts, Clark has finished runner-up to the World No. 1 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship.

At TPC Sawgrass, he nearly holed a putt on the final hole to force a playoff between him and Scheffler.

This week, arguably the two hottest players in the world will again tee it up at the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course, their final tune-up before the Masters in two weeks.

Houston Open: Thursday tee times | Odds, picks to win

However, there was a time this week when Clark thought he wouldn’t play. During a workout Monday in Scottsdale, Arizona, Clark tweaked his back. He flew to Houston early Tuesday but could only putt and chip. He didn’t take any full swings until Wednesday, and even then he had to work through soreness.

“I threw it out,” Clark said. “I was in pretty bad shape yesterday, but fortunately I have a great team that has gotten me to be able to swing and hit. I did a bunch of rehab, and I was able to hit balls today. So just in a short time I’ve improved a ton, and I think I’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

Clark said he got caught in an awkward spot doing a lift, and his back gave out. He said it’s not something that happens regularly, but he’s trending in the right direction.

He even thought he may have to withdraw.

“I wanted to give it my best effort,” Clark said. “I had a dinner last night that I wanted to be a part of and I knew I was playing with kids today that were battling after heart transplants and cancer, so I wanted to make sure I could be here for that.

“I’m going to give it my best effort tomorrow and hopefully I can play and compete. If not, I’ve got to get ready for tournaments to come after this.”

Clark tees off at 1:53 p.m. ET Thursday playing alongside defending champion Tony Finau and Si Woo Kim.

2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open Thursday tee times, TV and streaming info

Everything you need to know for the first round in Houston.

With the Florida Swing in the rearview mirror, the PGA Tour has left the Sunshine State and arrived deep in the heart of Texas for the first of two events in the Longhorn State.

Defending champion Tony Finau and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler highlight the field for this week’s 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston. The event returns to the PGA Tour schedule after a hiatus in 2023 with a new title sponsor and $9.1 million up for grabs (with $1,638,000 going to the winner).

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s what you need to know for the first round of action at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open.

Tee times and pairings

1st hole

Time Players
8:20 AM ET
Beau Hossler, Stephan Jaeger, Carson Young
8:31 AM ET
Aaron Baddeley, Dylan Wu, Josh Teater
8:42 AM ET
Justin Lower, Sam Stevens, James Hahn
8:53 AM ET
Taylor Moore, Chez Reavie, Nick Hardy
9:04 AM ET
Kevin Kisner, Ryan Brehm, Stewart Cink
9:15 AM ET
Gary Woodland, Matt Wallace, Brandt Snedeker
9:26 AM ET
Matthew NeSmith, Martin Laird, Austin Cook
9:37 AM ET
Greyson Sigg, Doug Ghim, Keith Mitchell
9:48 AM ET
Andrew Novak, Brandon Wu, Thomas Detry
9:59 AM ET
Jacob Bridgeman, Parker Coody, Pierceson Coody
10:10 AM ET
Max Greyserman, Patrick Fishburn, Norman Xiong
10:21 AM ET
Jesse Droemer, Alexander Björk, Alejandro Tosti
1:20 PM ET
Bud Cauley, David Lipsky, Roger Sloan
1:31 PM ET
Carl Yuan, Justin Suh, Henrik Norlander
1:42 PM ET
Patton Kizzire, Ryan Moore, Callum Tarren
1:53 PM ET
Si Woo Kim, Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau
2:04 PM ET
Sahith Theegala, Padraig Harrington, Jason Day
2:15 PM ET
Mackenzie Hughes, Billy Horschel, Tom Hoge
2:26 PM ET
Hayden Buckley, Robby Shelton, Tyson Alexander
2:37 PM ET
Nate Lashley, Sam Ryder, Zac Blair
2:48 PM ET
Ben Silverman, Paul Barjon, Kris Ventura
2:59 PM ET
Nicholas Lindheim, Adrien Dumont De Chassart, Kevin Dougherty
3:10 PM ET
Robert MacIntyre, Rafael Campos, Raul Pereda
3:21 PM ET
Richard Hoey, Rhein Gibson, Jorge Campillo

10th hole

Time Players
8:20 AM ET
Richy Werenski, Bronson Burgoon, Garrick Higgo
8:31 AM ET
Harry Hall, Taylor Montgomery, Ryan Fox
8:42 AM ET
Chesson Hadley, Cam Davis, Aaron Rai
8:53 AM ET
Peter Malnati, Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris
9:04 AM ET
Jake Knapp, Adam Svensson, Akshay Bhatia
9:15 AM ET
Nick Dunlap, K.H. Lee, Luke List
9:26 AM ET
Mark Hubbard, Ben Griffin, Tyler Duncan
9:37 AM ET
Sung Kang, Taylor Pendrith, S.H. Kim
9:48 AM ET
Joel Dahmen, Kevin Chappell, Lanto Griffin
9:59 AM ET
Ryan McCormick, Cole Hammer, McClure Meissner
10:10 AM ET
Sam Bennett, Tom Whitney, David Skinns
10:21 AM ET
Joe Highsmith, Thorbjørn Olesen, Dawie van der Walt
1:20 PM ET
Ben Taylor, Ryan Palmer, Michael Kim
1:31 PM ET
Davis Thompson, Scott Gutschewski, Joseph Bramlett
1:42 PM ET
Martin Trainer, Matti Schmid, Vince Whaley
1:53 PM ET
Scott Stallings, Daniel Berger, J.B. Holmes
2:04 PM ET
Davis Riley, Chad Ramey, Vincent Norrman
2:15 PM ET
J.J. Spaun, Cameron Champ, Kurt Kitayama
2:26 PM ET
Alex Smalley, Patrick Rodgers, Jimmy Walker
2:37 PM ET
Jhonattan Vegas, Alex Noren, Adam Long
2:48 PM ET
Chris Gotterup, Chandler Phillips, Hayden Springer
2:59 PM ET
William Furr, Trace Crowe, Erik Barnes
3:10 PM ET
Victor Perez, Harrison Endycott
3:21 PM ET
Chan Kim, Blaine Hale

How to watch, listen

ESPN+ is the exclusive home of PGA Tour Live. You can also watch the Houston Open on Golf Channel free on Fubo. All times ET.

Thursday, March 28

Golf Channel/Peacock: 4-7 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-7 p.m

ESPN+: 8:15 a.m.-7 p.m

Friday, March 29

Golf Channel/Peacock: 4-7 p.m

Sirius XM: 1-7 p.m

ESPN+: 8:15 a.m.-7 p.m

Saturday, March 30

Golf Channel/Peacock: 1-3:30 p.m

NBC: 3:30-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-6 p.m

ESPN+: 11 a.m.-6 p.m

Sunday, March 31

Golf Channel/Peacock: 1-3:30 p.m

NBC: 3:30-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-6 p.m

ESPN+: 11 a.m.-6 p.m

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Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris headline field for the Houston Open 2024

The field in Houston is solid.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, coming off two straight victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship, headlines the field for the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston. In three starts at this event, Scheffler has finished 32nd (2021), second (2022) and ninth (2023).

Joining him in the field are defending champion Tony Finau, world No. 4 Wyndham Clark – runner-up to Scheffler at the Players and Arnold Palmer – Will Zalatoris,  Jason Day and Jake Knapp.

Memorial Park Golf Course is a par-70 track measuring 7,412 yards.

The total purse is $9.1 million with $1.683 million going to the winner, plus 500 FedEx Cup points.

Here’s the full field for the Houston Open, one of two chances left to get a win and get into the 2024 Masters for golfers not already qualified.

Houston Open officially returns to PGA Tour’s spring schedule, signs new sponsor in Texas Children’s

Just months after the Austin event was axed, a fellow Texas tournament has slid back into the spring schedule.

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Just a handful of months after putting the final pile of dirt on the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, a fellow Texas tournament has slid back into the Austin event’s slot in the PGA Tour’s spring schedule.

Tour officials announced on Wednesday that the Houston Open will be held March 28-31, marking the first time since 2018 the event will be in the spring rotation. The Valero Texas Open in San Antonio is expected to maintain its position as the following week’s event, leading into the Masters.

According to an announcement from the Tour and Astros Golf Foundation, the tournament has also secured a long-term agreement with Texas Children’s, the largest pediatric and women’s health system in the nation. The agreement is for five years.

“We are excited to announce our partnership with Texas Children’s as the title sponsor for the Houston Open,” said Jim Crane, Houston Astros Owner and Chairman. “We couldn’t have asked for a better partner as we continue our mission of giving back to the greater Houston community. Aligning their values with the efforts of our Astros Golf Foundation provides a special opportunity for both organizations to continue to give back to our community, to grow the game of golf, and to provide a platform to help those most in need.”

The event moved from the private Golf Club of Houston to the municipal Memorial Park in 2020 after significant investment from Crane, who funneled enough cash into the muni track to get esteemed designer Tom Doak on board, with Brooks Koepka as a player advisor.

Memorial Park had always been the crown jewel of the Houston public golf scene. Originally built as a nine-hole course in 1912, an extensive redesign by John Bredemus (who had co-founded the Texas Professional Golfers Association in 1922) led to its “official” 18-hole opening in 1936.

2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open
Tony Finau celebrates after winning the 2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open. (Photo: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports)

From 1947 to 1963, the course hosted a PGA Tour event 14 times. Arnold Palmer won it once and Jack Nicklaus had a second-place finish. Famously, 1965 PGA Championship winner Dave Marr asked that his ashes be spread at Memorial Park — even though he never won there, he credited the track for shaping his career.

“On behalf of the PGA Tour, we are thankful to Texas Children’s for their commitment to one of the Tour’s legacy events in the Houston Open, a tournament that dates back to 1946,” said PGA Tour President Tyler Dennis. “The Houston Open has played a significant role in shaping the PGA Tour’s history through its competitive lineage with golf’s greats playing and winning the event as well as an unwavering commitment to bettering the community. This partnership between the Astros Golf Foundation and Texas Children’s has the opportunity to take the tournament to new heights, most notably in its ability to impact the lives of families in Houston and throughout Texas.”

Golfweek previously reported that Crane was leveraging the emergence of LIV Golf as a potential suitor for a Houston event if he couldn’t get the spring PGA Tour date he desired.

Crane is an investor in Escalante Golf, which staged two LIV Golf events in the upstart circuit’s inaugural year – Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Oregon and The International in Massachusetts – and then a third LIV event this season at The Gallery Golf Club in Marana, Arizona.

Crane, along with Giles Kibbe, senior vice president and general counsel for the Astros and president of the Astros Golf Foundation, played in the pro-am at LIV’s Boston event.

Houston is one of the largest markets in the U.S., and the Tour certainly didn’t want to lose it. Despite the Houston Open being successful going up against football and on the heels of a steady stream of baseball playoff games in recent years, Crane reportedly was no longer willing to support a golf tournament in the fall.

Tony Finau captured the Houston last November, and the event will not be staged in 2023 as it prepares for its return to the spring. The tournament will be televised on NBC, Golf Channel and Peacock, and PGA Tour Live on ESPN+.

Tony Finau boat races field, wins 2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open for fifth PGA Tour title

The win is Finau’s fourth in his past 30 starts.

Tony Finau came into the 2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open off a missed cut last week in Mexico in his first start of the season. He said he didn’t take any time off and continued to practice to knock off rust in an effort to bounce back.

And did he ever find his form.

Finau led or co-led after every round, and kept distance from the field during the final round Sunday at Memorial Park Golf Course. Finau captured the fifth PGA Tour title of his career Sunday, finishing at 16 under and winning by four strokes.

After winning only once in his first 188 starts on Tour, Finau has now won four times in his past 30 starts and three times in his past seven.

“In a position to win a tournament, you want to know what you’ve got to do,” Finau said of trying to close. “It was different nerves, I’ve never been in that position before where I was that far in front. I mean, I could get used to that, that’s a nice feeling to have. But I tried to just stay present and know that there’s still a lot of golf to be played, and I thought I did a pretty good job of that.”

There was never really a question as to whether Finau was going to win the Houston Open, moreover by how much. After going out in even-par on his first nine holes, he proceeded to go 5 under on his second nine during the first round to tie the lead. Then, he blitzed the field with an 8-under 62 to take a commanding four-shot lead at the halfway point.

Houston Open: Winner’s bag

During Saturday’s third round, which featured gusty winds and cooler temperatures, Finau didn’t miss any of the 13 fairways and shot 2-under 68, including a great up-and-down on the 18th hole to preserve his four-shot lead heading to the final round. It was a round he called better than the 8-under performance the previous day, and it set him up for Sunday, where he left no doubt.

“I was always hopeful that I could go on special runs, and I think we’re starting to see that now,” Finau said. “I’m starting to put together a full package game, which is really exciting for me. That’s all you can do is work hard, and I’ve worked extremely hard on parts of the game that I know I have to. I think it’s starting to show.”

For Finau, he’s in the field next week at the RSM Classic. He’s also the last player to win back-to-back starts on Tour, which he did at the 3M Open in Minnesota and the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Michigan late last season.

“It’s not easy sleeping on the lead,” Finau said. “I just, I didn’t know if I had it in me, but you just take it a shot at a time.”

“It’s an interesting mindset. Yeah, a little bit of don’t screw it up, or maybe if we hit some good shots we can extend this lead. I kind of lived in the middle out there.”

With Finau running away for the title, the most interesting race was who would be runner-up between Tyson Alexander and Ben Taylor. Coming into the Houston Open, neither player had recorded a top-10 finish on Tour.

Alexander drilled a 33-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to get to 12 under, and Taylor, who was a shot behind, hit his approach shot to 23 feet but was unable to make it, so he finished at 11 under and solo third with Alexander finishing runner-up.

“Great week for me,” Alexander said. “I wish Tony would have taken the week off, but yeah, you know, 132 players, I think one guy’s going to beat me, so that’s what it’s all about, just trying to beat as many people as possible.”

Nevertheless, it was a career weekend for both he and Taylor.

It was also a special week for Cole Hammer, Travis Vick and Kyle Westmoreland. Hammer, a Texas graduate, made his first cut on Tour as a professional. He had missed his first six. Hammer finished T-27 at 2 under.

Vick, a current senior at Texas, made the cut and finished at even-par for the week, in a tie for 39th.

It’s a heroic story for Westmoreland. He went to high school in the Houston area, then earlier this year became the first Air Force graduate to earn a Tour card. On Veterans’ Day weekend, Westmoreland made the cut on the number, having to wait until Saturday morning to find out whether he made it. He placed T-27 and 2 under for the week.

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