The first event of the PGA Tour's Texas swing commences Thursday with the Texas Children's Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course.
While this week serves as a bridge event while players prepare for the Masters, there are more ways to bet on the tournament than just who will emerge victorious on Sunday. For more instant gratification, we turn to the First Round Leader market to find value on who will sit atop the leaderboard when play comes to an end on Thursday.
Here are my favorite 2026 Houston Open first-round leader picks and bets for Thursday.
2026 Houston Open: First Round Leader Picks, Bets
Min Woo Lee +1500 (DraftKings)
Min Woo Lee won this event last season, and there is little reason to believe he cannot get off to another fast start this week. He dominated the course with a 20-under-par performance, a result that aligns with his skill set.
Putting is arguably the most important factor at Memorial Park. Last year, each of the top three finishers ranked inside the top six in the field in strokes gained: putting.
No other strokes-gained category showed a similar trend.
That profile favors Lee, who ranks in the 93rd percentile on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: putting. He has gained true strokes putting in each of his past four events, recording three top-12 finishes during that stretch.
Nicolai Hojgaard +2800 (BetMGM)
Another golfer worth targeting in Thursday’s opening round is Nicolai Hojgaard. Like Lee, Hojgaard brings strong putting ability to Memorial Park, ranking in the 81st percentile on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: putting.
Success on the greens is often supported by strong short-iron and wedge play. Last season, 18.6% of approach shots came from the 125-150-yard range, the highest distribution of any 25-yard grouping at this course.
Entering this week, Hojgaard ranks 50th on the PGA Tour in birdie-or-better percentage from that distance. He also enters the tournament in solid form, with five top-30 finishes in his past six events.
When is the Houston Open?
The 2026 Houston Open tees off on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
- What: 2026 Houston Open
- When: March 26-29, 2026
- Where: Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston, Texas.
- Par: 70
- Length: 7,475
- Purse: $9.9 million
Where to Watch the Houston Open?
2026 Houston Open TV Schedule
Round 1: Thursday, March 26
- Live stream: ESPN+ (8:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET)
- TV coverage: Golf Channel (3 to 7 p.m. ET)
Round 2: Friday, March 27
- Live stream: ESPN+ (8:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET)
- TV coverage: Golf Channel (3 to 7 p.m. ET)
Round 3: Saturday, March 28
- Live stream: ESPN+ (7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
- TV coverage: Golf Channel (1 to 3 p.m. ET); NBC (3 to 6 p.m. ET)
Round 4: Sunday, March 29
- Live stream: ESPN+ (7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
- TV coverage: Golf Channel (1 to 3 p.m. ET); NBC (3 to 6 p.m. ET)
Who is Favored to Win the 2026 Houston Open?
Houston Open Kalshi Odds
