Houston Open 2025 FRL Tips: Theegala to start hot on Thursday

The forecast for Thursday’s (and potentially Friday’s) opening round of the Houston Open suggests we may have a significant draw bias on our hands. One that Jamie Worsley is hoping can help us crack the first-round leader market at Memorial Park Golf Course.

He previews the opening round and gives his thoughts on the players who he feels have a good chance of getting a flying start on Thursday. Check out his Houston Open 2025 FRL Tips below.

Houston Open Odds

It is predicted to be overcast throughout tomorrow and the day will begin in reasonably still conditions, with a mere 7-9mph breeze not enough to cause problems for those morning starters. Those winds are forecast to increase in speed around midday and continue to rise over the course of the afternoon, where we’re expected to see a constant 15mph breeze accompanied by gusting winds up to 29mph.

Although a passing storm in the afternoon could bring play to a halt and result in the afternoon starters completing their first rounds on Friday morning, the strengthened winds are also scheduled to stick around well into that second day.

This should hand a clear advantage to the early tee times in this week’s first-round leader market and that’s where I’ll focus all of my attention.

1 pt Sahith Theegala each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 50/1

Start time: 08:04

Sahith Theegala has struggled to find his best form so far in 2025 but having missed just one cut in nine events, he hasn’t been all that far away. He made his best start of the season in last week’s Valspar Championship and possessing some low rounds at Memorial Park, he looks a strong candidate from his morning tee time.

The short game has been typically strong and whilst inconsistent there has been plenty of quality within his long game. Sluggish starts had been an issue, but he corrected that last week, opening with a two-under 69 to sit 10^th after the first round – his highest round one position of the season – and I’m hoping for more of the same.

Theegala has played here on three occasions and performed solidly each time, recording finishes of 22^nd, 28^th and 61^st, and firing three rounds of 67 or better. His fourth round 64 in 2022 was the second-best score of the week there and any repeat of that would put him in the frame for the first-round lead this week.

Golf Odds

0.75 pts Jesper Svensson each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 80/1

Start time: 08:59

Jesper Svensson has settled into life on the PGA Tour rather comfortably in 2025, missing just two cuts across eight starts. His strength with the driver and quality on the greens should be a good fit for this layout and doing most of his best work over the first 18 holes of events, he can hit the front on Thursday.

The big-hitting Swede’s best finish of the season came on his first start in the Sony Open, as he finished 10^th. That was a result aided by a solid 67 in the opening round and this has become a recurring theme throughout his starts, ranking 15^th in round one scoring this season.

Svensson’s best opening round effort came at the correlating Cognizant Classic, as he shot a seven-under 64 to hit 5^th place thru 18 holes. That bodes well for his chances of scoring well here and ranking inside the top 25 in this field both off-the-tee and with the putter, I have confidence that the course will suit his game.

0.75 pts Trey Mullinax each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 100/1

Start time: 07:42

Trey Mullinax comes into this event off the back of his best first-round display of the season in THE PLAYERS Championship, where he shot a four-under 68 to sit in 8^th place after 18 holes. He also has previous of getting off to a fast start at Memorial Park and he can make use of his early tee time to do so again this week.

He hasn’t had many starts this season but has looked solid enough when he has teed it up, recording top-20 finishes in The AmEx and Puerto Rico Open. Every area of his game has shown positive signs and as a usually strong, lengthy driver who is finding plenty of greens, this venue would appear a suitable setup.

This certainly proved to be the case for Mullinax in 2022, as he finished in 4^th place. He opened with a four-under 67 to move into 12^th after 18 holes there and following with a 66 and then another 67 in round four, we can be sure he knows how to score at the course.

0.75 pts Alejandro Tosti each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 110/1

Start time: 08:59

Last up is Alejandro Tosti. The Argentinian was an excellent 2^nd in the Houston Open last season and having shown some promising first-round form at the start of 2025, I’m hoping a return to the course will spark him back into life.

He was driving the ball very well at the start of the season and after finishing 10^th in the Mexico Open, I fancied he may kick on. That hasn’t happened, missing three of his next four cuts, but he has shown some improvements in approach and it’s a plus to have him back on greens he putted so well in 2024.

Tosti opened with a 66 to sit 6^th after the opening round here last year, before shooting three further rounds in the 60s. He does have a history of starting swiftly, as he showed back in Mexico, opening with a six-under 65 to hit 4^th place on day one. It’s no surprise that he would find his best performance of the season on that open layout and on a similar setup here, I’m expecting another upturn in result.

You can find all Jamie's latest Golf Betting Tips over on our dedicated golf Insights hub.