The First Look: Vivint Houston Open

[ad_1]

Reigning FedExCup champion Dustin Johnson headlines a Vivint Houston Open field that also features past FedExCup winners Henrik Stenson, Brandt Snedeker, and Texas native Jordan Spieth.

Lanto Griffin will defend his first TOUR title at Memorial Park Golf Course, which was totally redesigned (with input from Brooks Koepka) by famed architect Tom Doak for 2020. The public course in Houston – which sees approximately 60,000 rounds per year – will be part of the TOUR schedule for the first time since 1963.

FIELD NOTES: Johnson and Adam Scott are set to make their first starts on the TOUR since testing positive for COVID-19… Brooks Koepka will return to the golf course he had a hand in shaping… Mickelson is 2-for-2 with PGA TOUR Champions victories this season but decided to tee it up in Houston instead of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Mickelson won the Houston Open in 2011. The last Houston Open at Memorial Park also was the first PGA TOUR win by a left-hander. Bob Charles won at Memorial Park in 1963, the same year he won The Open Championship to become the first left-hander to win a major… The last three Houston Open winners including Lanto Griffin (2019), Ian Poulter (2018), and Russell Henley (2017) are part of the past champions contingent… Four of the top 10 on the current FedExCup standings (Stewart Cink, Garcia, Martin Laird, and Hudson Swafford) are in the field… Justin Harding, Kyle Hogan, Dawie van der Walt, and Jhonattan Vegas are amongst the sponsors exemptions. 

FEDEXCUPWinner receives 500 FedExCup points.

COURSE: Memorial Park Golf Course, par 71, 7,021 yards (yardage subject to change). The TOUR makes its return to Memorial Park for the first time since 1963. Founded in 1912, Tom Doak, who redesigned the course with the help of Koepka, took flood-prone land and added elevation and improved drainage. The TOUR’s best will see a totally different Memorial Park Golf Course for 2020 with holes that have been both lengthened and shortened, fairways widened, and trees removed. “Other than winning a golf tournament, it’s one of the coolest projects that I’ve been involved in,” Koepka told FOX 26 Houston last year.

STORYLINES: The Vivint Houston Open will be the first TOUR event in the U.S. since THE PLAYERS Championship to have spectators on site… The event, for 2020-21, was moved from October to November to accommodate the changes to the schedule due to COVID-19… The tournament returns to Memorial Park Golf Course for the first time since 1963… Griffin proved how valuable a solid fall could be, as he rode his victory in Houston all the way to The TOUR Championship last season. 

72-HOLE RECORD: 266, Curtis Strange and Lee Trevino (1980 at Woodlands CC), Vijay Singh (2002 at TPC Woodlands). Golf Club of Houston record: 268, Phil Mickelson (2011), Russell Henley (2017). Memorial Park Golf Course record: 268, Bob Charles (1963).

18-HOLE RECORD: 62, Ron Streck (3rd round, 1981 at Woodlands CC), Fred Funk (3rd round, 1992 at TPC Woodlands). Golf Club of Houston record: 63, Johnson Wagner (1st round, 2008), Adam Scott (1st round, 2008), Jimmy Walker (1st round, 2011), Phil Mickelson (3rd round, 2011), Scott Piercy (1st round, 2015), Sung Kang (2nd round, 2017).

LAST TIME: Griffin held off Scott Harrington and Mark Hubbard, a trio of Korn Ferry Tour graduates from the season prior, for his first PGA TOUR victory. Griffin calmly rolled in a 6-foot par on the 72nd hole to secure the win. He had moved to the top of the leaderboard only two holes earlier after draining a 35-foot birdie on No. 16. Griffin, a two-time Korn Ferry Tour winner, held of Harrington, who shot a 5-under 67 Sunday, and Hubbard, who shot a 3-under 69. All three were looking for their first TOUR victories. Harris English, Xinjun Zhang, Talor Gooch, Carlos Ortiz, and Sepp Straka all finished T4.


HOW TO FOLLOW

Television: Thursday-Sunday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)

PGA TOUR LIVEThursday-Friday, 7:50 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Featured Groups)   

Radio: Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio).

[ad_2]

Source: PGA tour

Related Posts

LPGA debuting its own behind-the-scenes documentary

Bryson DeChambeau on Dude Perfect video: ‘Times are changing’

ContentsHOW TO FOLLOW Bryson DeChambeau on Dude Perfect – AUGUSTA, Ga. – Count Bryson DeChambeau among those who was surprised Augusta National green-lit the now viral Dude Perfect video. “Everybody…

Read more
LPGA debuting its own behind-the-scenes documentary

Brooks Koepka has inkling of what Tiger Woods faces in return at Augusta National

ContentsHOW TO FOLLOW Brooks Koepka – AUGUSTA, Ga. – Brooks Koepka at least has some semblance of an idea of what Tiger Woods is facing this week at Augusta National….

Read more
LPGA debuting its own behind-the-scenes documentary

Fred Couples happy to be getting Tiger Woods texts again at Masters

ContentsHOW TO FOLLOW [ad_1] AUGUSTA, Ga. – Fred Couples has become a regular practice round partner of Tiger Woods at the Masters, but as this year’s tournament approached he didn’t…

Read more
LPGA debuting its own behind-the-scenes documentary

Collin Morikawa much better at making golf history than recalling it

ContentsHOW TO FOLLOW [ad_1] Collin Morikawa wants to make history. Remembering it, however, is a different story. Morikawa won two majors, the PGA Championship and The Open, prior to turning…

Read more
LPGA debuting its own behind-the-scenes documentary

Watch: Masters tweets video of Tiger Woods’ Sunday practice round

ContentsHOW TO FOLLOW [ad_1] Tiger Woods arrived at Augusta National on Sunday afternoon after tweeting that competing in the 86th Masters Tournament would be a “game-time decision.” Woods, around 3:20 p.m….

Read more
LPGA debuting its own behind-the-scenes documentary

Drive, Chip and Putt recap: Bubba Watson fan Autumn Solesbee among winners

ContentsHOW TO FOLLOW [ad_1] AUGUSTA, Ga. – Waiting for Autumn Solesbee under the iconic oak tree behind Augusta National’s clubhouse was Bubba Watson. As a former Masters champion, Watson has…

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *