RADIO
Todd McGill's DraftKings, FanDuel PGA DFS picks for the 2026 Texas Children's Chouston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course. Picks for daily fantasy golf based on course history.
It was a redemption story at Innisbrook, as Matt Fitzpatrick rebounded from defeat the week before at The Players in the same dominant manner as the front row seat he had watching Cameron Young. It was another collapse from the player holding the lead going into Sunday, as Sungjae Im shot a +4 over 40 on the opening nine that effectively took himself out of the conversation. Professional golf fans have to love the action we've seen in Florida, and it's setting the way for a really exciting major season.
We now head to the Texas two-step before strolling down Magnolia Lane, with the first on the schedule being the Texas Children's Houston Open. While it doesn't have the field strength that the Valspar was able to assemble, Scottie Scheffler is back in action to get things in order ahead of the year's first major. Course history is a big component of fantasy success here, so this week's article is definitely not one to miss!
Horse For The Course is an article highlighting players in this week's field with elite course history and is part of our free PGA DFS content here at RotoBaller. For some of the favorite DFS plays of the week, check out the Core Four article written by my buddy, Joe Nicely, here at RotoBaller every Wednesday. It's part of our amazing PGA Premium package that includes an all-new PGA Research Station, Lineup Builder & Optimizer, and some of the best articles in the PGA DFS industry! You can sign up now using the Promo Code TDG for an extra 30% discount at checkout!
2026 Texas Children's Houston Open
As tour leadership continues discussions of refining future seasons, the future of events like this week is unclear. However, its position in such a major U.S. market would seemingly make it more favorable to the new mission.
Min Woo Lee looks to defend his title from last season, posting -2o under par over four days to hold off Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland. It was the lowest total in this event since moving back to Memorial Park in 2019. The event's timing has been inconsistent over the years, with the last two iterations being held in March. However, that hasn't stopped many names from continuing to find success here.
The more significant side of this tournament for the lower-tier players is that it's the last week to get into The Masters via the top 50 in world ranking. Those who fail to qualify will have to win next week in San Antonio to punch their ticket.
You can find out who the smart money is on by checking out Spencer Aguiar's PGA DFS: Vegas Report weekly. Be sure to read our other top-notch weekly PGA DFS articles and Player News/Matchup Outlook Posts to help you win big!
Memorial Park Golf Course
Par 70 - 7,475 | Greens: Bermudagrass | Designed By: John Bredemus
Because of the length and sheer demand for the big stick, this has been an event big on names with tons of distance. That isn't likely to change this year either, as Memorial Park is the second-longest course on the schedule. According to the statistics, the average strokes gained off the tee correlation here has consistently been more distance-focused than accuracy.
The length of this course gives the impression that approach distances must also be more centered around longer irons. However, the length is primarily made up of the five par fours on the card that will play over 490 yards, with the longest stretching out to a gut-churning 522 yards. Overall, though, players will need to perform from nearly all areas of the iron play to take advantage of the more getable holes.
With the length comes the enhanced need to gain strokes on the greens. Min Woo Lee averaged 2.18 strokes putting over his four rounds last year, while also ranking second on the week in driving distance. The lack of needed imagination around this place can produce some really low scores for guys hitting it and rolling the rock well.
This layout has typically produced scoring averages near or above par, but there are also always a few guys who fire really low rounds throughout the week. On Sunday last season, we saw two 62s and a 63 on the final day that was nearly good enough to catch the Austrailian.
Recent Houston Open Winners
- 2025: Min Woo Lee (-20)
- 2024: Stephen Jaeger (-12)
- 2023: Tony Finau (-16)
- 2022: Jason Kokrak (-10)
- 2021: Carlos Ortiz (-13)
The Horse
Scotty Scheffler
- Notable Finishes: T2 ('22, '24, '25)
It didn't take long to have Scottie Scheffler back in the saddle for this week's horse. Interestingly, he has never been able to claim victory here, but the comfort he has at this property is undeniable. Of anyone who's played this event more than once, the world number one has the highest average total strokes gained on this layout (2.80).
Ball striking concerns have been the large talking point for Scheffler this season, as he isn't performing with the same dominance that we've come to expect. While the issues off the tee have been a major talking point for analysts, it's more the iron play that has kept the former Texas Longhorn from his usual production. Compared to his two-year baseline, Scheffler has declined heavily from 200 yards or more, as well as from 100-150 yards.
He's still the best player in professional golf, but hailing him as the one player to beat every week has undoubtedly lost a bit of luster until the dominance in his iron play returns.
The Ponies
Stephan Jaeger
- Notable Finishes: 1st ('24), T9 ('23), T11 ('25)
Throwback to last year's Texas Children's Houston Open, where Stephan Jaeger took down world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. 👏 pic.twitter.com/ruejhcHXxy
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 25, 2025
Stephan Jaegar was last year's player to watch early in the season, and the champion from two years ago will be looking for that level of production in his return to Houston this week. It's been a rough start to 2026, as he's only managed one top-five finish in six starts. The other weeks have mostly seen him play all four days, but the level of production has not been usable in a fantasy golf format.
Memorial Park has been a great spot for the German, who's done most of his damage on and around the greens. The ball striking is always a concern, as he ranks outside the top 100 this season in both ball striking metrics. However, he does have one factor needed regardless of scoring efforts: length.
He's more useful if scoring happens to stay in the lower teens, as needing to make a lot of birdies isn't an easy ask when the ability to get shots close to the hole is an issue. Still, there is plenty of comfort here to consider him a flyer DFS pick with upside.
Tony Finau
- Notable Finishes: 1st ('23), T2 ('24)
247 yards ➡️ 3 feet@TonyFinauGolf makes eagle at the par-5 6th 💪 pic.twitter.com/1pdVpEOlnG
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 26, 2024
When this event moved from the fall to mid-March, Tony Finau was the last person to win it in its fall spot. He was undoubtedly the first person many wondered if he could find the same success. That was answered with a resounding "yes" after finishing in a tie for second the next year.
2026 has been frustrating for the 36-year-old, who has shown flashes but has ultimately not been a part of any weekend conversations. He should gain some added comfort this week, having averaged 2.189 strokes gained from tee to green over his last 14 rounds at Memorial Park. It will be interesting to see if he can again find success after finishing T18 last week at Innisbrook.
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Gary Woodland
- Notable Finishes: T2 ('25), T9 ('23)
After opening up last week about his PTSD after brain surgery, Gary Woodland has shot rounds of 70 and 68 to be just outside the top 10 at the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour.
After the round, he spoke about the reaction to that interview:
“It's been amazing, to be honest… pic.twitter.com/4T8ay239aM
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) March 20, 2026
It's always nice to see Gary Woodland in an article like this, given the challenges he's faced in recent years with brain tumors and now PTSD struggles. However, this is not a sympathy pick by any means, because the 41-year-old has been a familiar face at Memorial Park for the last three years.
The former Jayhawk has averaged an incredible 1.073 strokes gained on approach over his last 14 rounds, which is the best of anyone with more than one tournament under their belt. The length off the tee is still there. The putting ability has also had flashes of brilliance, as he gained over eight shots on the greens here last year.
Coming off a T14 at the Valspar, Woodland should be a name on most fantasy radars ahead of Thursday's opening round.
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