With just two tournaments left before the highly anticipated Masters, excitement is building as the PGA Tour makes its stop in Houston for the Texas Children’s Houston Open. The event is one of the few tournaments where Tiger Woods has never secured a victory—or even a runner-up finish.
Last year’s Houston Open ended in thrilling fashion, with Stephan Jaeger claiming the title by just one stroke. Five players—Scottie Scheffler, Tony Finau, Taylor Moore, Alejandro Tosti, and Thomas Detry—tied for second place, narrowly missing out on victory. This year, they return determined to make up for last year’s disappointment and compete for the trophy.
Groupings and starting times for the first and second round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open pic.twitter.com/3i8HFrv6iD
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 25, 2025
Round 1 & 2 Tee Times and Pairings – Texas Children’s Houston Open
Scottie Scheffler, the current World No.1, enters as the tournament favorite despite not yet reaching peak form since his injury over the holidays. He will begin his quest alongside Rickie Fowler and Sungjae Im, teeing off from Tee 1 at 1:03 PM ET.
Rory McIlroy, fresh off an impressive win at The PLAYERS Championship, is another strong contender. Looking to maintain his momentum ahead of the Masters, McIlroy will be paired with Maverick McNealy and Wyndham Clark, starting from Tee 10 at 7:53 AM ET.
Other notable groups include JJ Spaun, Keith Mitchell, and veteran Padraig Harrington, who will tee off from Tee 1 at 12:41 PM ET. Meanwhile, Sahith Theegala, Jake Knapp, and Nico Echavarria will begin their rounds at 8:04 AM ET from Tee 10.
Big Names Missing at the Houston Open 2025
While the tournament features many top-ranked players, several high-profile names will be absent. Xander Schauffele, ranked No.3 in the world, is taking a break following his participation in the Valspar Championship and the TGL finals, where his team, New York Golf Club, competed against Atlanta Drive GC.
Justin Thomas, another TGL finalist, will also be sitting this one out. He recently came close to his first PGA Tour victory in three years but finished second at the Valspar Championship, narrowly losing to Viktor Hovland, who will also miss the Houston Open. Other notable absentees include Jordan Spieth and Collin Morikawa.
With a competitive field ready to tee off at the Memorial Park Municipal Golf Course, all eyes will be on Scheffler and McIlroy. However, the possibility of a new champion emerging adds intrigue to the event. Will one of the favorites claim victory, or will a dark horse steal the spotlight?