RG’s “Fairway Focus” is a weekly look at golf’s major tours. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights. In this installment, Elliott previews the PGA TOUR’s Texas Children’s Houston Open and the LPGA’s Ford Championship and looks back at TGL’s first season.
Scheffler, McIlroy Headline Star-Studded Field at Texas Children’s Houston Open
The PGA TOUR heads to the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course, where defending champion Stephan Jaeger will attempt to fend off the world’s top two players in what promises to be an exciting week.
Memorial Park, a municipal course with roots dating back to 1912, underwent a significant renovation in 2019 by architect Tom Doak before returning to the PGA TOUR schedule. The par-70, 7,475-yard layout will challenge players with its strategic design and put an emphasis on both power and precision.
World’s Best Battle in Houston
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler returns to Memorial Park with unfinished business after finishing runner-up last year. Scheffler missed a 5-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole that would have forced a playoff with Jaeger. Despite not having a win yet this season, Scheffler has been his usual consistent self with three top-15 finishes and will be looking to build momentum heading into his Masters title defense.
Fresh off his PLAYERS Championship win and sitting atop the FedExCup, Rory McIlroy will make his Houston Open debut this week. McIlroy, who has already notched two wins this season, has done so earlier than ever before in his career. The Northern Irishman is showing exceptional form in his run-up to the Masters, the one major championship that has eluded him.
Defending Champion and Course Specialists
Stephan Jaeger returns to defend his maiden PGA TOUR title, which he secured in dramatic fashion last year. The German shot a final-round 67 and made nine consecutive pars to close out his one-shot victory over Scheffler. Jaeger has played solidly this season with two top-10s.
Tony Finau has been remarkably consistent at Memorial Park, tying the course scoring record with a second-round 62 last year and finishing in a five-way tie for second with Scheffler and others. He also won this event in 2022, when it was hosted in the fall. Finau could use a strong performance after missing the cut in each of his three full-field starts this season.
LPGA Stars Return for Ford Championship as Season Intensifie
The LPGA Tour returns to the U.S. this week for the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass, bringing elite competition to Arizona just four weeks before the year’s first major. All top 10 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will compete as the Tour begins a demanding stretch with events in four of the next five weeks, culminating in the Chevron Championship.
Defending Champion and Top Contenders
World No. 1 Nelly Korda headlines the field as she returns to defend her title. Korda’s victory at last year’s inaugural Ford Championship—where she shot a bogey-free final-round 65 to win by two strokes—was part of her remarkable five-tournament winning streak. This will mark her third start of 2025, having not competed since February’s Founders Cup.
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul enters as one of the hottest players in women’s golf, with a Ladies European Tour victory and two top-three LPGA finishes this year. Lydia Ko, already a 2025 winner at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, rounds out the elite trio atop the field.
Notable Returns
This week will see a handful of interesting comebacks. Twenty-time LPGA Tour winner Cristie Kerr makes a rare appearance, having played just two LPGA events in 2024. Lexi Thompson, who announced her retirement from full-time competition last year, makes her second start of 2025 after finishing T3 in last year’s event. Rose Zhang returns after focusing on her studies, marking only her second start of the season. Zhang has committed to a limited schedule as she works toward completing her Communications degree at Stanford.
New Venue Welcomes LPGA Field
For its second edition, the Ford Championship has moved to Whirlwind Golf Club’s Cattail Course. Located near Phoenix, this Gary Panks design features large undulating greens and wide fairways. This venue change marks the first time the LPGA has competed at Whirlwind, adding an element of intrigue as players adapt to an unfamiliar layout.
Atlanta Drive GC Claims Inaugural TGL Championship in Dramatic Fashion
In a thrilling conclusion to TGL’s inaugural season, Atlanta Drive GC completed an epic comeback to defeat New York Golf Club 4-3 in the Finals, claiming the first-ever SoFi Cup and the $9 million first prize.
Horschel’s Heroics Seal Victory
Billy Horschel delivered the defining moment when he drained a 17-foot birdie putt on the penultimate hole, giving Atlanta its first lead of the night. The putt sent Horschel into an exuberant celebration as he dropped his putter and threw his hat in the air.
“Two feet out, I knew it was in the hole, and I blacked out,” Horschel said afterward. “I think I said some expletives. I think I said something about this being my house.”
“They picked up on that, Billy, I think,” teammate Justin Thomas interjected, laughing.
Epic Comeback Showcases Format
Atlanta’s victory was especially impressive, considering they trailed 3-0 through 11 holes. The team strategically deployed all three of their Hammers, winning four points through holes 12–14 for the comeback win.
They cut into the lead at the par-3 12th after Patrick Cantlay hit his tee shot to 4 feet, making it 3-1. Atlanta added another point at the 13th when Xander Schauffele hit his approach shot into the bunker, narrowing the deficit to 3-2. Horschel’s dramatic birdie on the 14th hole completed the turnaround.
Future of TGL
As the tech-infused golf league concludes its first season, expansion is already being considered. TMRW Sports CEO Mike McCarley indicated talks are underway to add more teams, possibly as soon as 2026, and the league is exploring a potential West Coast venue.
Current players believe there’s significant interest from other PGA TOUR members. Jupiter Links’ Kevin Kisner noted: “Every player I see asks me about it. If we’re going to expand and continue to grow this, then you want guys to feel like they’re missing out. I think we’re achieving that.”
Players have already suggested improvements for future seasons, from including celebrities to creating home courses for each team. The league demonstrated a willingness to adapt throughout its inaugural season, most notably by restructuring the Hammer format mid-season to increase excitement and volatility.
If TGL can maintain the intense competition showcased in the Finals while continuing to evolve, the future looks bright for this innovative golf league.
Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.
Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.
Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.
