HOUSTON March 29, 2025: Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy sought a final warm-up before the Masters, battling wind and rain at the Houston Open on Thursday, where challenging conditions kept the field tightly packed.
Keith Mitchell made a late eagle, while Ryan Gerard lost momentum with two closing bogeys, leaving them tied at 5-under 65 alongside Alejandro Tosti and Taylor Pendrith when play was suspended due to darkness.
Scheffler, the world’s No. 1, delivered a steady, bogey-free round with two long birdies on the back nine, finishing with a 67, two shots off the lead. “Conditions were pretty tough with the rain and wind, so it was nice to keep a clean card,” Scheffler said.
McIlroy, fresh off his win at The Players Championship, struggled early but recovered as the weather improved, carding a 70 with two birdies on par 5s and two bogeys. “Couldn’t really find the middle of the club face at first,” he admitted.
Tosti, who contended late in last year’s event, also posted a bogey-free round, capitalizing on all three par 5s. Mitchell rebounded from early bogeys, while Pendrith lost his solo lead after a bunker shot on the 18th led to a missed 10-foot par putt.
Jackson Suber was in contention for the lead until a four-putt double bogey on the 18th dropped him to 66. Gerard, sitting at 7 under with two holes to play, saw his lead slip away after a penalty drop on the eighth and a tough bunker lie on the ninth, closing with two bogeys.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little upset,” Gerard admitted. “But being tied for the lead after the morning wave is still a great start, especially in tough conditions.”
With wet conditions throughout the day, players were allowed preferred lies. Gerard opted against using an umbrella, saying, “I feel like my arms get fatigued, so I just focus on keeping my grips dry and making solid swings.”
Suber joined a group of eight players at 66, including Rasmus Hojgaard, who briefly led before a double bogey. His twin, Nicolai Hojgaard, shot 69.
Michael Kim and Ben Griffin, both seeking a top-50 world ranking to qualify for the Masters, opened with 70s as they chase a last-minute Augusta invitation.