Texas Children's Houston Open Returns to Memorial Park for 2026 Tournament

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Min Woo Lee are among 133 players competing this week at Memorial Park Golf Course as the Texas Children's Houston Open marks its sixth consecutive year at the 1001 East Memorial Loop Drive venue.

Lee, who earned his first PGA Tour win at this tournament in 2025 by edging Scheffler and Gary Woodland by a single stroke, returns as the player to beat. Woodland is also back in the field, along with major champion Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Will Zalatoris, Sungjae Im, Si Woo Kim, and Chris Gotterup. The Houston Open is the 12th tournament of the 2026 PGA Tour season, with tournament play running March 26-29 and park-wide closures in effect through the end of the week.

The Memorial Park Conservancy expects 15,000 visitors to the park each day during those four competition days. That volume comes with significant access restrictions: all Memorial Park parking lots are closed to the public March 26-29, street parking is restricted, and permit or credentialed access is required at every park entrance off Memorial Drive. Parking at the Golf Course, Vale-Asche Playground, Sports Complex, and Tennis Center has been closed since March 23. Lots at the Fitness Center, Clay Family Eastern Glades, Picnic Loop, and Running Complex remained open through March 25. The Conservancy suggests Buffalo Bayou Park, the Bayou Greenway trails, Hermann Park, and Rice University trails as alternatives for runners and park regulars during tournament week.

General Admission tickets cover all 18 holes, including public viewing areas and bleacher seating. Gates open at 8 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. Sunday, with the trophy ceremony held on the 18th green following the final putt. Children 15 and under are admitted free.

The tournament is organized by the Astros Golf Foundation, whose president, Giles Kibbe, appeared on KPRC 2 to discuss the event's local significance and its support for Texas Children's Hospital, the title sponsor. Since 2019, the Astros Golf Foundation has distributed more than $23.4 million into the community through tournament proceeds, funding local nonprofits, youth scholarships, school programming, financial assistance for families, and initiatives for children living with life-limiting conditions. The tournament's "Birdies for Charity" program allows donors to direct contributions to the charities of their choosing. The Houston Open is described as the single largest fundraiser for the Astros Foundation and also benefits the City of Houston, the Memorial Park Conservancy, and the First Tee of Greater Houston.

PGA Tour President and EVP Tyler Dennis called it "a legacy PGA TOUR event dating back to 1946" with "all the ingredients of a premier PGA TOUR event: a true competitive test in Memorial Park Golf Course, an engaged fan base, and a commitment to better the community, led by the Astros Golf Foundation."

The Houston Open's connection to Memorial Park stretches back to 1947, when the course first hosted the event, and again from 1951 to 1963. The tournament returned to the park in 2020 following a major course renovation led in part by Houston Astros owner Jim Crane. The economic footprint of the annual event is substantial: the tournament generates up to $90 million in positive economic impact for Houston each year. More information is available at tchouopen.com.