The Course Report
Memorial Park
About Memorial Park
Back to the states, and we will have strokes gained data. So, for those of you itching for some stats to dive into, your long wait is finally over. Typically, the Houston Open appeared just prior to the Masters, but that has changed in recent memory. It was often used as a preparation style course that had difficult putting surfaces with the intention of the course being a strong draw for any player looking to prepare for golf’s biggest major.
High wind will determine the size of the high numbers you will see here. While the course tried to mirror what would be seen at Augusta, I would argue that the weather itself made this tournament feel more like a U.S. Open event more than anything else. Yet don’t fool yourself. The course plays nowhere near major conditions as the average winning score over the last five years has been sixteen under par.
Another aspect of this course is that greenskeepers will more than likely have shaved run-off areas so missing greens on approaches will find you in a nasty collection area.
This is one of the longer courses that the players will see this year. At 7,432 yards we are going to see plenty of drivers trying to bomb between the semi-penal rough. Yet, one key nugget about this course is that the entire sod is composed of Bermudagrass, and this includes the rough as well. It isn’t a reach to potentially do your research and look for golfers who have had success on similar style courses, but keep in mind the data set is somewhat limited.
Now the minute number of bunkers is intentional. Doak was convinced that pros just really aren’t that deterred by greenside bunkers, and instead placed emphasis on sloping greens, contours that mess with pro’s putting breakdowns, and runoff areas that penalize poor approach shots. While one of the narratives this week will be length, make sure you’re not looking at longer approach shots and players that have had past success sticking greens from far away.
Now the courses length does limit scoring opportunities. Three of the par 3’s play over 200 yards, and there are 8 par 4’s playing over 440 yards.
Architect: John Bredemus (1935); Tom Doak (2019)
Greens: Bermudagrass
Green Size: 7,00 sq. feet – Large
Stimpmeter: 12-12.5 – Fast
Length: 7,432 – Par 70
Water Hazards: 4 come into play
Bunkers: 19 bunkers
Weather Forecast
Approach Shot Distribution
Past Winners
4-straight birdies led to straight to win number three on the PGA Tour, as Kokrak got hot at the right time to withstand then charging Scheffler and Tway.
The comeback by Kokrak was impressive. On Saturday morning he was ten shots back of the leader, and in just two rounds, was able to complete the comeback.
Ortiz became a first-time PGA Tour winner. The tournament provided plenty of action as Ortiz outlasted then #1 in the world Dustin Johnson.
Ortiz’s win was thanks to a multitude of factors. The most beneficial being that Sam Burns’ could not hold onto a 54-shot lead. Birdies on 17 and 18 sealed the win for Ortiz.
*Not played at Memorial Park
*Not played at Memorial Park
*Not played at Memorial Park
It took a 3-man playoff, but Johnson beat Louis Ossthuizen and Marc Leishman by shooting a 15, 1 under in a four hole playoff.
Johnson was a surprise win as just the week before his prep came in Illinois at the John Deere Classic. This was Johnson’s second major win, and his first Claret Jug.
Entering with a six-stroke lead over the field, McIIroy went from dominant to just hanging on. Still, no golfer ever got withing two strokes the entire day, and he held his composure despite struggles off the tee and on the greens.
In winning, McIIroy became the seventh wire-to-wire winner in Open Championship history.
After winning the Scottish Open the week prior, Mickelson birdied four of the last six holes and became the Open Champion.
To this point, Phil had come close to winning, but had often doubted his abilites on links style courses.
Els began Sunday 6 shots back, but still clinched the vicotry after Adam Scott imploded.
Els’ 68 was a comeback of epic proportions when you consider the fact that Scott was still winning by 4 strokes on the 15th tee.