Folks, buckle up! The first round of the Texas Children's Houston Open truly ignited. And who seized the early lead at the Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas? None other than England's Paul Waring! With an absolutely flawless 7-under-par 63, he grabbed the top spot, sitting at an impressive -7. What an incredible round, conjured onto the scoreboard late on Thursday (March 26, 2026)!
Now that's a statement! Waring thus leads by one stroke after the first day of play. A performance that PGA TOUR Communications on X immediately celebrated as a "bogey-free, career-low 7-under 63" and highlighted that he had a "career-best 161' 10" of putts made" – clearly, the putter was red-hot!
The Chasers Hot on His Heels
Right behind Waring, a strong trio is lurking, also off to a great start. Sam Burns, Michael Brennan, and Tom Hoge share second place, each at -5. Michael Brennan particularly caught attention: he holed an eagle on the formidable 616-yard (563-meter) Par 5 16th hole – quite a statement! The total prize pool of a hefty 12 million dollars is clearly motivating the guys out there to their absolute best.
Withdrawals and Surprises
Even though the tension on the greens is high, there were some setbacks beforehand. Aaron Rai (108th in the FedExCup) had to withdraw due to a neck injury, despite having performed exceptionally well here in the past. Taylor Moore has stepped in for him. And yes, the reigning world's best player Scottie Scheffler is also not in the field – making the competition even more unpredictable. The sun, by the way, was blazing down at around 29°C (84°F) with winds of 18 km/h (11 mph) across the course.
With this leading position, Paul Waring has created an excellent starting point on the long Memorial Park layout. It remains to be seen if he can continue this impressive run! The fourth and final round will be broadcast on Sunday, March 29.
EXCERPT: Paul Waring has taken the lead at the Texas Children's Houston Open with an impressive round of 63. The Englishman is at -7 after the first day of play, followed by Sam Burns, Michael Brennan, and Tom Hoge. The tournament in Houston promises a lot of excitement after an opening filled with surprises and strong performances.
