Golf Glance: Scottie Scheffler seeks rare trifecta in Houston

Field Level Media's Golf Glance provides weekly news and storylines from each of the major North American golf tours.

PGA TOUR

LAST TOURNAMENT: Valspar Championship (Peter Malnati)

THIS WEEK: Texas Children's Houston Open, March 28-31

Course: Memorial Park Golf Course (Par 70, 7,435 yards)

Purse: $9.1M (Winner: $1.638M)

Defending Champion: Tony Finau (2022)

FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Thursday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-3:30 p.m. (GC), 3:30-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. (GC), 2:30-6 p.m. (NBC)

Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday, 8:15 a.m.-7 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

X: @TCHouOpen

NOTES: The event returns to a spring date after being contested in the fall each of the past four seasons. It was not played in the 2023 calendar year. ... This is the fourth playing at Memorial Park, which first hosted the tournament in 2020. ... The top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking after this event will qualify for the Masters if not already exempt. The highest-ranked players in this week's field who are not yet exempt are No. 57 Tom Hoge, No. 63 Mackenzie Hughes and No. 66 Alex Noren. ... Padraig Harrington, who won on the Champions Tour last week, is in the field on a sponsor exemption.

BEST BETS: Scottie Scheffler (+275 at BetMGM) is trying to become the first player to win three consecutive events on tour since Dustin Johnson in 2017. He has a T2 and a T9 in Houston the past two seasons. ... Wyndham Clark (+1200) has finished runner-up to Scheffler in each of his past two events. ... Will Zalatoris (+1800) makes his tournament debut while coming off consecutive top-5s in his past two starts. ... Sahith Theegala (+2000) is a Spring, Texas resident and has consecutive top-10s entering the week. ... Tony Finau (+2200) won by four shots in 2022 but has a lone top-10 in eight starts this season.

NEXT TOURNAMENT: Valero Texas Open, San Antonio, April 4-7

LPGA Tour

LAST TOURNAMENT: Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship (Nelly Korda)

THIS WEEK: Ford Championship presented by KCC, Gilbert, Ariz., March 28-31

Course: Seville Golf and Country Club (Par 71, 6,734 yards)

Purse: $2.25 million (Winner: $337,500)

Defending Champion: Inaugural event

Race to the CME Globe leader: Korda

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV/Streaming: Thursday-Friday, 6-9 p.m. ET (Peacock), 7-9 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 6-9 p.m. (GC/Peacock).

X: @LPGA

NOTES: The 144-player field will be cut to the top 65 and ties after 36 holes. ... All five winners in 2024 are in this week's field. ... This is the first professional tournament to be held at Seville, which was designed by Gary Panks and features an island green on the 17th hole.

NEXT TOURNAMENT: T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards, Las Vegas, April 3-7

PGA Tour Champions

LAST TOURNAMENT: Hoag Classic (Padraig Harrington)

THIS WEEK: The Galleri Classic, Rancho Mirage, Calif., March 29-31

Course: Mission Hills Country Club (Par 72, 7,165 yards)

Purse: $2.2M (Winner: $330,00)

Defending Champion: David Toms

Charles Schwab Cup leader: Steven Alker

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Friday: 12 p.m.-Midnight ET (Golf Channel -- Tape Delay); Saturday, 3:30-6 p.m. (GC); Sunday, 2:30-6 p.m. (GC)

X: @GalleriClassic

NOTES: The 54-hole event features a 78-player field that includes six World Golf Hall of Fame members.

NEXT TOURNAMENT: Invited Celebrity Classic, Irving, Texas, April 19-21

LIV Golf League

LAST TOURNAMENT: Hong Kong (Individual: Abraham Ancer; Team: Crushers GC)

THIS WEEK: OFF

2024 Leaders: Players, Joaquin Niemann; Team, Crushers GC

NEXT TOURNAMENT: Miami, April 5-7