GOLF
What is the cut line at the Texas Children’s Houston Open: Who will miss the cut?
The Memorial Park Golf Course is the setting for this year’s Houston Open which concludes on Sunday, 31 March.
PGA Tour Rookie Wilson Furr delivered a strong finish with 20-foot birdie putt to shoot a 6-under 64 and tie Taylor Moore for the lead after the opening round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open on Thursday at Memorial Park Golf Course.
Furr, ranked No. 278 in the world entering this week, started his round on the back nine before heating up on the front. After a birdie at No. 3, he holed out from the fifth fairway for an eagle 2 and finished his round birdie-birdie, including his long putt at the par-3 ninth. Furr, 25, had made just one cut in his first eight starts on tour.
“It’s a dream come true” to be on the PGA Tour, Furr said. “Just being surrounded by the best golfers in the world, it’s kind of inspiring day to day, can’t ask for a better job than that. Yeah, I’ve just tried to soak it all in and just get better at golf, that’s all we can do.”
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler began his quest for three wins in three starts by shooting a 5-under 65. Scheffler won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship before heading to his home state of Texas. He is tied for third with Davis Riley and Joe Highsmith.
Beau Hossler, Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti, Englishman Aaron Rai and Canadians Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Svensson are tied for sixth at 4-under 66.
Tony Finau, the champion the last time the Houston Open was played (November 2022), opened with a 1-under 69.
Fourth-rated Wyndham Clark, the second-highest ranked player in the field behind Scheffler, said he hurt a muscle in his back to begin the week but is attempting to play through it. He carded an even-par 70 to start the week.
Friday’s action in Houston
With many of the players on course as Day 2 continues, the project cut line is E (even par). As things stand this would see roughly 70 golfers packing their bags and leaving Houston at the conclusion of Friday’s action.
At present the likes of Sahith Theegala, Wyndham Clark, Tom Hoge, Stewart Cink, Padraig Harrington and Alexander Björk, amongst others would see their ambitions to progress through to Day three of the tournament dashed.