Paulie's Picks: 2026 Texas Children's Houston Open

The theme for this week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open? Bombs away. 

Memorial Park boasts fast, undulating greens surrounded by shaved runoffs, but the rough is minimal. Add in the limited hazards in play off the tee and a par 70 design that can play close to 7,500 yards, and you’re guaranteed to see players sending driver as far as they can (without much concern for accuracy). Players who bomb it are going to have a massive advantage as being 20-30 yards farther means hitting two to four clubs less into the greens compared to the average driver. Over the course of the week, that’s hard to keep up with.

So, in terms of skill sets to target this week, we are obviously looking at bombers who can be at least average in iron play and around the green. 

Michael Thorbjornsen: Top 30, +100

After a week off following his Sunday collapse at the Players, Thor is in an ideal bounce-back spot. He is one of the best overall drivers in the field and this course should showcase that talent. He ranks in the top 20 in the field in distance and is average in all of the other main statistical metrics. On the two other courses in 2026 that have heavily favored bombers, he finished third ( Farmers Insurance Open)  and 16th (WM Phoenix Open).

Marco Penge: Top 30, +114

Penge, a three-time winner last season on the DP World Tour, is still going under the radar as he really hasn’t flashed on the PGA Tour as some of us golf diehards had expected. An elite driver of the ball and one of the longest on Tour, Penge enters this week in really good form after finishing fourth at the Valspar Championship on a course that didn’t really fit his game that well. Now he heads to a course where he can unleash his biggest weapon. I think Penge contends this week and cashes a top 30 ticket at plus money.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju: Top 40, +120

Yellamaraju burst onto the scene in 2026, and the self-taught golfer is still being undervalued by betting markets. Based on what I’ve seen and his shot data, I’m a believer. He ranks in the top 20 in distance off the tee and is above average on approach and putting. He has finished in the top 40 in each of his last three starts, highlighted by a fifth-place finish at the Players. With a week off and some added confidence, look for Yellamaraju to rack up another high finish this week.

Gary Woodland: Top 40, +122

Through all the struggles Woodland has dealt with, he is still capable of performing at a high level, as shown by his 14th-place finish at the Valspar last week. Woodland is one of the longest players on Tour, but sometimes he can be erratic off the tee. This week, he will be able to lean on his biggest advantage and bomb driver on almost every hole. This is arguably the best course on Tour for his overall skill set, as seen in his past results. Even while recovering from his health issues, he finished runner-up here in 2025 and 21st in 2024. This seems like a perfect spot to back Woodland for a top 40.