Blog #128 April 2 TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOUSTON OPEN Mar 28 to Apr 1, 2024 Municipal Golf Course Houston TX Par 70 Purse $9.1M from $8.4M+700K 8%
Coverage for this tournament has a different format since it is 2 weeks before the Masters and has a limited number of top players competing. No preview on March 25, and the results on April 2nd with comments on this tournament’s makeup and the future of these smaller events.
HISTORY
Tournament started in 1946 won by Byron Nelson, The event moved to the fall in 2019 and was last played in November of 2022 as the Cadence Bank Open won by Tony Finau. The new sponsor is Texes Children’s Hospital with financial help from the Astros Foundation. It replaced the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Played at Austin Country Club which is ending.
FAVORITES
Scottie Scheffler 14/5 The way he is playing he should win for the 3rd straight time.
Wyndham Clark 14/1 Has come in 2nd at Arnold Palmer & Players, may win this one.
Will Zalatoris 18/1 Finished in top 5 at Genesis & Arnold Palmer.
COMMENTS ON TOURNAMENTS WITH SMALLER PURSES AND WEAKER FIELDS
This is #13 the tournament this year. The others were The Players, 4 Signature events, And 9 with purses from $8.1M to $9.1M. One of the top 3 should win, however there have been several first time winners this year. Peter Malinati, 39 years old turned pro in 2009, got his 2nd win at the Valspar last week which was his only win since the Fall Sanderson in 2015. TV ratings were down 27% and the lack of star power is affecting TV ratings and may force a compromise between PIF & PGA.
One solution for 2025 could be allowing qualified LIV players to play in some of these secondary events and expand signature events to a field of 144 with a cut. PGA players may not agree with this solution but to keep these secondary tournaments relevant, drastic changes must be made. Twelve LIV golfers have been invited to The Masters. Oddsmakers have 5 of the top 16 picked to win as players from LIV. It will be interesting to see TV ratings especially if one or more are among the leaders in the final round, and if one wins.
This tournament was another one difficult to watch except for the performance of Scottie Scheffler. But he was not at his best especially with his 3 putt on 18 in Rd 2. Zalatoris was awful, Clark mediocre. An example of how LIV has had an effect on the quality of PGA events. For these secondary events to continue, the PGA must find a way to include LIV players, make more top players participate, or have less events!!!
If the PGA does not do it, the TV sponsors will.
RESULTS FIRST RD 1 #1 Taylor Moore-6 64 One eagle, 5 birdies, 1 bogie..
#2 Scottie Scheffler-5 65 bogie free RD, PGA record 28th straight RD-par.
#54 Wyndahm Clark-3 Birdies 4 of 1st 10 holes then 3 bogies on last 5.
#124 Will Zlalatoris Starts with 6 bogies on first 13 holes then 2 birdies+4.
SECOND RD #1Tony Finau-9 Starts with bogie, then 1 eagle 7 birdies 62.
#2 Alejandro Tosti-7 Two bogies 5 birdies66 in 1st RD.
#4 Scottie Scheffler-5 DB on 18 misses 2’ putt, shoots 70 and ends 28 under par.
#22 Wyndham Clark-2 One DB 1 bogie, 4 birdies. Finishes#31-4.
#61 Will Zalatoris+1 Just makes cut with birdies on 16&17. Finishes#73+4.
THIRD ROUND #1 Six Tied Scheffler-9 66, Skinns 65, Jaeger 66, Detry 67, Tosti 68.
FINAL ROUND Another first time winner with only a few top players to contend again.
#1 Stephen Jaeger-12 67 He was the most consistent with 4 RDs under 70 and he deserved his first win. However the 5 players who finished second blew several makable putts
(including Scheffler) which would have given them the win. $1.6M
#2 Scheffler-11 68 Missed a makable putt on 18 which would have forced a playoff. $554K
#2 Finau-11 66 birdied the last 2 holes but too little to late. $554K
#2 Moore-11 67 First RD leader, fell off in RD2 and birdied 17 in RD 4 but not enough. $554K
#2 Tosti-11 68 Had lead thru 16 but bogied 18 to loose a tie for the lead. #554K
#2 Detry-11 68 missed several makable putts which would have given him the win. #554K
OG'olf'IT 
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