Texas Children’s Houston Open 2026: Chris Gotterup’s run will continue

After the grind of the Florida Swing, the tour shifts to the Lone Star State and the wide corridors of Memorial Park Golf Course for the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open. Once again garnering an elite field, the minimalist public course has served as a high-stakes tune-up on the road to Augusta National for the past few seasons. After an extensive renovation at the hands of Tom Doak, Memorial Park has become a rare breed of golf course on the PGA Tour schedule.

The layout features the fewest bunkers on tour, relying instead on steep runoff areas and multi-layered greens. At over 7,400 yards and a par 70, Memorial Park is well-suited for bombers who can send it with too much concern of trouble off the tee. Despite its public access, Memorial Park is a truly unique venue that puts a heavy emphasis on brute power and delicate touch, making it an ideal setting to see who is truly ready for the first major of the year.

Here are my top 10 contenders to hoist the trophy at the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open this week. 10. Wyndham Clark Julio Aguilar Wyndham Clark arrives in Houston carrying exceptional form in two key areas.

He’s hitting his approach shots close, signaling vast improvement in that area, and he’s chipping around the greens better than ever. The wide, forgiving fairways at Memorial Park should be a welcome sight for Clark, who bombs it off the tee but often struggles with dispersion. He finished T-5 at this event last season, and his course history suggests a natural fit.