PGA Tour Houston Open Betting Picks: Memorial Park Course Analysis and Expert Predictions

Houston Open: Betting Picks & Course Preview
Where: Memorial Park Golf Course (Houston, TX)
When: March 27th – 30th
Watch: The Golf Channel, NBC, Peacock

The 2025 Texas Children’s Houston Open is set to bring another exciting chapter to the PGA Tour, unfolding at the challenging Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas. Scheduled for March 24th through the 30th of 2025, this tournament holds a significant place in the lead-up to the Masters, drawing top-tier talent eager to fine-tune their games.

Memorial Park’s demanding layout promises a compelling contest, testing players’ skills with its strategic design. The event not only showcases world class golfing, but also generates considerable local excitement, and benefits local charities through the Astros Golf Foundation.

As the tournament approaches, anticipation builds regarding the players who will grace the course. With notable players such as Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, among others, expected to compete, the 2025 Houston Open is poised to deliver thrilling moments and a fierce competition for the coveted title. Golf enthusiasts can look forward to comprehensive coverage across television networks like Golf Channel and NBC, as well as streaming platforms, ensuring they don’t miss any of the action.

About the Course

• Par 70
• Distance: 7,435 yards
• The course was recently renovated in 2019
• Par 4 17th hole with a drivable green depending on tee position

Who to Bet this Weekend?

Aaron Rai – Top 5 and Top 10 Finish (+450 and +200)

Looking at this field, it is quite possible that the Houston Open comes down to the top two betting favorites in, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. However, I actually have my eyes set on the 3rd highest-betting favorite in Aaron Rai. After a rough three-tournament stretch to begin the 2025 season, Rai has been as dominant as any other golfer over his last three appearances. Rai has gone T14, T11, and T4 in consecutive tournaments, and I happen to think his game fits the challenges of Memorial Park very well. Off the tee, Rai will not miss many fairways. He isn’t a long driver, but he can make up that disadvantage with his spectacular approach play from his long irons to his wedges. Rai has also demonstrated a high level of proficiency at Memorial Park and has yet to place outside the top 20 in three tries. Aaron Rai will need to keep his putting stroke consistent this weekend, but with limited self-inflicted strokes, he has a great chance to cash these bets.

Taylor Pendrith – Top 10 Finish (+325)

Has Taylor Pendrith finally found his putting stroke again after that abysmal showing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational? There is plenty of optimism surrounding this thought as the putter seemed to come back to life at The Players, only the second out of eight 2025 events where Pendrith netted positive putting strokes gained. I am backing Taylor Pendrith in the hopes that things continue to trend in the right direction. Without his world-class putting, Pendrith doesn’t have a shot…but with it, he is as tough as they come. His 2024 season was a masterclass in play on the green, so if he can build on The Players, I like his chances in Houston.

Jason Day – To Miss the Cut (+175)

Call this one a bit of a gut feeling. While Day has been off to a pretty impressive start to his 2025 season, I am not confident in his ability to compete even in this watered-down field. He may be the 6th highest favorite to win the event, but in my opinion, that line is overly skewed due to recent performance. His history with Memorial Park is a bit mixed, but he actually missed the cut last year and was dangerously close to missing it in 2022. I expect Day to fall back into this way of errant tee shots and find himself posting rounds 3-4 strokes over par. At a course that is not exceptionally challenging, a slow start will have him home by Saturday.