Following a blustery and wet first round, players were welcomed with perfect weather on Friday morning as the 2025 Houston Open progressed. The Memorial Park course, playing soft with lift, clean, and place rules, and nearly no morning wind offered ideal scoring opportunities, which Scottie Scheffler exploited to perfection.
The top-ranked golfer began the day at 3 under, trailing the leaders by two strokes, but quickly climbed to the leaderboard’s summit by equaling his own course record with an impressive 8-under 62. (Tony Finau has also achieved a 62 at Memorial Park twice.) Scheffler started strong with birdies on his opening two holes (Nos. 10 and 11) and maintained exceptional precision throughout the day, hitting 9 out of 13 fairways, managing to find 17 of 18 greens in regulation, and sinking 112 feet worth of putts, resulting in a flawless round of eight birdies and 10 pars.
After 36 holes, Scheffler has yet to register a bogey, and after dealing with some difficulties with the putter earlier in the season, he demonstrated superb alignment and speed on Friday. With the Masters just around the corner in two weeks, Scheffler appears to be hitting his stride at the right moment. If he can continue to build confidence over the weekend, he will enter Augusta National as a strong contender for a third green jacket, despite Rory McIlroy’s strong start to the season.
While Scheffler was taking charge of the tournament, McIlroy was focused on making the cut. The favorable conditions resulted in better scoring during the second round, and after an even-par 70 on Thursday, McIlroy faced substantial challenges. Though he began his round by matching Scheffler’s early birdies with two of his own in the first three holes, he hit a slump, unable to get his putter to cooperate.
After reaching the par-5 8th in regulation, play was halted due to storms in the area. Upon resuming, McIlroy made a three-putt for par. He remained stuck in first gear through the 14th hole, sitting two shots from the projected cut line while being 1 under for both the round and the tournament when he approached the 15th tee.
However, McIlroy gained momentum with birdies on holes 15 through 17, bringing him to 4 under and comfortably above the cut line, which fluctuated between 2 under and 3 under. He parred the 18th hole just as darkness paused play, finishing with a 66 and securing a spot for the weekend rounds. While it seems unlikely he can catch Scheffler, this gives him a chance to gain momentum heading into Augusta.
The Leader
1. Scottie Scheffler (-11)
Scheffler delivered a stellar performance on Friday, dispelling concerns that had arisen about his form early in the season, especially for a player who hasn’t finished outside the top 25 in 2025. The whispers regarding his putting were somewhat valid given how dominant he had been a year prior. The Memorial Park greens clearly suit his style, and his early birdie attempts showcased his growing confidence.
Contenders
T2. Taylor Pendrith, Min Woo Lee, Ryan Gerard (-10)
T5. Jackson Suber, Trey Mullinax, Nico Echavarria (-8)
Although Scheffler’s brilliance stole the spotlight, Pendrith matched him with his second consecutive 65, remaining competitive as the weekend approached. Echavarria had an outstanding front nine of 29 and reached 9 under, just requiring two pars to break the course record before his drive on 17 found the water. Upon returning, he ended with bogeys on both 17 and 18, finishing at 8 under with a 63.
Min Woo Lee and Ryan Gerard also had their second rounds interrupted but successfully carried positive energy into Saturday, sitting T2 at 10 under. Suber and Mullinax repeated their Thursday 66s, sitting just a few strokes back of Scheffler as the weekend looms.
Cut Line Drama
While McIlroy didn’t have to worry on Saturday morning, numerous players faced anxiety about making the cut. The top 65 players and ties advanced to the third round, and when play was suspended, 67 players were 3 under or better. Four players at 3 under, along with five at 4 under, needed to return on Saturday to finish their rounds, while eight players at 2 under and seven at 1 under sought to improve their position.
With the course still soft in the morning and little wind, the cut line remained at 3 under, allowing 69 players to play over the weekend in threesomes. Notable players who missed the cut include:
- J.J. Spaun
- Jacob Bridgeman
- Alex Smalley
- Joe Highsmith
- Si Woo Kim
- Nick Taylor
- Aaron Rai
2025 Houston Open Updated Odds and Picks
- Scottie Scheffler (4-5)
- Min Woo Lee (13-2)
- Taylor Pendrith (7-1)
- Ryan Gerard (12-1)
- Nico Echavarria (35-1)
It seems fitting for Scheffler to be the favorite with a one-shot lead, given how difficult it is to envision anyone overtaking him. However, if one aims to find a contender, they must look for someone who can accumulate birdies, as Scheffler is unlikely to falter. Lee emerges as a solid option given his performance, while Jackson Suber at 55-1 could be worthy of consideration, trailing just three shots.
