{"id":14106,"date":"2025-03-25T16:34:40","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T16:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.betspertsgolf.com\/raw-forum\/?post_type=article&p=14106"},"modified":"2025-03-26T14:46:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T14:46:21","slug":"2025-texas-childrens-houston-open-noonans-outright-picks-and-preview","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/api.betspertsgolf.com\/raw-forum\/article\/2025-texas-childrens-houston-open-noonans-outright-picks-and-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Texas Children\u2019s Houston Open- Noonan\u2019s Outright Picks and Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the conclusion of the Florida Swing and just two weeks remaining until the Masters, the PGA Tour now shifts its focus to the west for the Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course. The long Par 70 track, which sits at 7,475 yards, has a unique layout, with five par 3s and three par 5s. The course features <\/span>a modest<\/span> 21 bunkers and only four water hazards, all changes made during the 2019 Brooks Koepka<\/a>-led redesign. Its defense lies in the distinctive green complexes characterized by undulating surfaces and short-grass runoffs with false fronts. According to course superintendent Parker Henry, while everything is visible, the green complexes can be challenging if not approached accurately. <\/span><\/p>\n

The course has historically played over par, emphasizing the need for a well-rounded game. The tournament’s move from fall to spring has significantly changed the course’s agronomy and how the field approaches the challenges of Memorial Park. The once bermudagrass-covered course now showcases Poa trivialis on the greens. Additionally, the rough has transitioned from penal 2.5″ Bermuda to a more manageable 1.25″ ryegrass. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is a grip-it-and-rip-it course off the tee, and the penalty for missing the fairway should be severely reduced. We saw a spike in the average driving distance last season, up to 301.9 yards in 2024, after averaging around 287 during the previous two editions. Driver usage was <\/span>at<\/span> 82.9% last season, roughly 15% higher than the average PGA Tour event. <\/span>We also saw 24.2% of the drives exceed 320 yards last season, up from 5.1% <\/span>and<\/span> 10.0% during the previous two events <\/span>here<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Memorial Park offers a well-balanced mix of doglegs and straight holes, featuring a variety of distances across its layout. Lengthy holes are a prominent characteristic of the course. Three of the five par 3 holes exceed 200 yards, while eight par 4 holes measure over 440 yards. The course presents its challenges, with five par 4 holes playing over 490 yards and an average bogey or worse rate of 28.9%. Even the par 5 holes are demanding, including the 576-yard 16th hole, which has a Birdie or Better rate of only 22%.<\/span><\/p>\n

Every approach shot at Memorial Park is <\/span>tougher<\/span> than the Tour average. The key challenge is landing your second shot in the right quadrant of the large sloping greens. With steep slopes and false fronts near the edges, hitting the wrong section makes it difficult to secure makeable birdie putts. Sometimes, missing the green on the correct side is preferable to hitting it and facing a long, complicated putt. <\/span>The low greens in regulation rate<\/span>, despite the large greens,<\/span> bring around the green and lag putting into play this week.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more course details, check out\u00a0<\/span>Ron’s<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>course preview<\/span><\/a>. It’s the best in the business, bar none. Also, don’t forget to check out our new research tools, the Memorial Park\u00a0Course <\/span>stats page<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>along with<\/span> the\u00a0<\/span>Tournament Cheat Sheet.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Podcast:\u00a0<\/span>Apple<\/span><\/a> |\u00a0<\/span>Spotify<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n

YouTube:\u00a0<\/span>Betsperts Golf<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n

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Key\u00a0<\/span>Rabbit Hole<\/span><\/a> Stats This Week:<\/span><\/h2>\n