Picks to Win & Best Bets for the Texas Children's Houston Open

We’re less than two weeks away from driving down Magnolia Lane, so it might be hard to focus on anything else. But before we get to the year’s first major, it’s time for the Texas Children’s Houston Open—and believe it or not, the field is stacked.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is back a year after falling short to Stephan Jaeger and is looking to win for the first time this season. Rory McIlroy already has two tallies in the win column, including at THE PLAYERS in his last start. They’ll be joined by Jason Day, Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau, Min Woo Lee, Sahith Theegala, and Sungjae Im, among others.

Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston has transformed over the last few years, cutting down the rough and adding some great run-off areas around the greens. It’s been set up to mirror what players should expect at the Masters.

This week’s winner will go home with $1.71 million of the $9.5 million purse and 500 FedEx Cup points.

Golf Course and Course History

Memorial Park Golf Course | Par 70 | 7,475 yards

Odds to Win the Texas Children’s Houston Open

Scottie Scheffler (+330)

Rory McIlroy (+700)

Aaron Rai (+2800)

J.J. Spaun (+3300)

Davis Thompson (+3300)

Jason Day (+3500)

Sungjae Im (+3500)

Wyndham Clark (+3500)

Tony Finau (+3500)

Michael Kim (+3500)

Si Woo Kim (+4000)

Min Woo Lee (+4000)

Taylor Pendrith (+4500)

Stephan Jaeger (+4500)

Jacob Bridgeman (+5000)

Maverick McNealy (+5500)

Sahith Theegala (+5500)

Thomas Detry (+5500)

Keith Mitchell (+6000)

Ben Griffin (+6000)

Key Stats for the Week

Strokes Gained: Around the Green

Driving distance

Players with success on long, difficult golf courses

Picks to Win the Texas Children’s Houston Open

Rory McIlroy (7/1)

Rory McIlroy. THE PLAYERS Championship 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

There’s nothing I hate more than taking a player at singles digits, but this feels like a golf course that fits McIlroy perfectly. He’s not only fifth in driving distance, he has one of the most underrated short games on TOUR—eighth in scrambling. Data Golf lists Pinehurst No. 2 as the closest course comparison to Memorial Park, and we saw how well he played there at last year’s U.S. Open. Also doesn’t hurt that he has two wins already.

Aaron Rai (28/1)

Aaron Rai. THE PLAYERS Championship 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Taking Rai as the third betting favorite is something I’ll have to think about, but you can’t argue that this isn’t a great spot for him. Over his last three trips to Memorial Park, Rai has tied for seventh twice and for 19th. The Englishman has played some great golf over his last three starts, tying for fourth (Mexico Open), 11th (Arnold Palmer) and 14th (THE PLAYERS).

Min Woo Lee (40/1)

Min Woo Lee. THE PLAYERS Championship 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

The golf world has been waiting for Min Woo to get his first win and I think this is a great spot for him. He can pound it off the tee—he’s ranked third in driving distance—and gets up and down with the best of them—he’s ninth in strokes gained around the green and 22nd in scrambling. He was squarely in the mix going into the weekend at THE PLAYERS before a third-round 78 derailed his chances. On top of that, he has four top-20s in six starts this year. As the kids say: Let. Him. Cook.

Stephan Jaeger (45/1)

Stephan Jaeger. THE PLAYERS Championship 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

It’s tough to win the same event two years in a row, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he contends again this weekend. Before winning last season, Jaeger finished T-9 at Memorial Park in 2022. He likes the golf course and he’s played well this season. Most recently, the German contended at THE PLAYERS before a final-round 75 pushed him into a tie for 20th.