Houston Open 2026: Niall Lyons Four Betting Tips

Course - Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston, Texas.

This golf course is difficult to pigeon hole with various types of games winning here since it took up hosting duties five years ago.

Dustin Johnson was the second longest driver in the field when finishing runner up back in 2020, whilst the last five winners have all ranked inside the top 20 in that statistic. Finau hit the most fairways in the field when he won back in 2022 but looking at the other contenders and winners that year and the other years it certainly doesn't seem to matter all that much whether you're accurate from the tee or not. Min Woo Lee ranked 5th in driving distance when winning last year but only 65th in accuracy. Driving distance features heavily on recent leaderboards here.

The club that has mattered the most over the last number of renewals has been the putter. 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd and 5th have been the rankings of the four winners here on the greens and it looks impossible to compete here unless you're one of the top 20 performers with the flat stick on the week.

As ever that club is difficult to predict but concentrating on the bigger hitters who can scramble well looks the way forward.

Previous Winners / Winning Score:

2025 - MW Lee (-20)
2024 - S.Jager (-12)
2022 - T.Finau (-16)
2021 - J.Kokrak (-10)
2020 - C.Ortiz (-13)
2019 - L.Griffin (-14) *Houston Golf Club
2018 - I.Poulter (-19)*Houston Golf Club

Chris Gotterup - 3pts Each-Way - 20/1
Ryan Fox - 1.5pts Each-Way - 75/1
Taylor Pendrith - 1.5pts Each-Way - 50/1
Max Greyserman - 1.25pts Each-Way - 66/1

Tip 1: Chris Gotterup - 3pts Each-way

20/1 and 6 Places available with multiple bookmakers when publishing.

Everything points towards Jake Knapp performing well here and it looks like an ideal time for him to be playing Memorial Park. However, this is about as short as he has been in the market all year and with Scheffler in the field I just can't be taking that plunge.

At not too much shorter I much prefer Chris Gotterup who can notch a third win in as many months. Last July Gotterup set his stall out by beating the likes of McIlroy and Scheffler when claiming the Scottish Open at the Renaissance track. He comfortably put away a weaker field in January at Waialae and then once again showed what he can do in a deeper field when winning at Scottsdale, a field which included this week's tournament favourite. Not many can boast a handful of wins over Scheffler but Gotterup can and where his wins have come is also notable.

Myrtle Beach, Renaissance and Waialae all have winds to deal with and being in Texas this week we often see similar. Min Woo was a proven operator in the wind when winning last year and with this course favouring the longer hitters there is nothing to deter Gotterup from continuing on his merry way.

He looks a much stronger prospect around the 20/1 mark than others around him and he rates a strong top selection for me. 

Tip 2: Ryan Fox - 1.5pts Each-Way

75/1 and 8 Places available with bet365's extra place market.

Another playing well enough who has a really good profile for a course such as this is Ryan Fox. The Kiwi hits the ball a mile off the tee and can benefit from the lack of trouble around here when you do miss a fairway.

His approach play has been really consistent since the beginning of 2026 and you need to go back to the Wyndham last August for the last time he missed a weekend.

Good putters go well here and although Fox can be really streaky he generally can be considered a much better than average putter.

Runner ups at a couple of irish Opens, a top 5 at the Scottish and a win at the Dunhill Links are all relevant to Memorial Park and he arrives here with a similar profile as to what Min Woo had in 2025.

He was 3rd here after 54 holes last year before shooting over par in the final round to 15th but having opened 68-65-65 over the first three days he showed what he is capable of around here. Trending nicely and should be really looking forward to this test. 

Tip 3: Taylor Pendrith - 1.5pts Each-Way

50/1 and 8 Places available with bet365's extra place market.

Taylor Pendrith has made his last four cuts on tour and is generally showing flashes of brilliance in each part of his game without putting all parts together on any given week.

A few weeks ago he ranked 2nd in the field in strokes gained approach at Bayhill only to be outdone by a woeful performance on the greens. It was the same story at Sawgrass where he again struggled with the putter with his long game in fair nick around such a dangerous layout.

A return to Memorial Park should really suit, a venue on which he was 5th last year.

The lack of danger off the tee here is a big positive for the Canadian, as it was at the nearby Craig Ranch, the scene of his lone victory on tour thus far.

This track is perfect for him and should he find an upturn with the putter could give a bold fist of this.

Tip 4: Max Greyserman - 1.25pts Each-Way

66/1 and 8 Places available with bet365's extra place market.

Finally I'll include Max Greyserman who should be licking his lips at a return to Memorial Park. He finished 7th here in 2024 and has everything it takes to go well once again.

He is another suited off the tee here given he is a sprayer with the driver. He hits it plenty long enough though and his game gets better from there on.

Sawgrass understandably wasn't going to suit but prior to that 18th at Bayhill and 24th at Riviera were better than fair. He ranked 10th in the field at the Arnold palmer for strokes gained approach.

If his iron game is on point this week he must have a big chance given how well he is putting.

Two his best finishes on tour have been runner ups at Detroit Golf Club and TPC Twin Cities, two venues that allow the golfer to open the shoulders with the driver. Similar applies here and I'm hoping the likely upturn with the driver will prove the difference here.