By TERRY LYONS, Editor: Digital Sports Desk
HOUSTON – Forty-one year old Paul Waring (1st/-7), playing on a Major Medical Extension, posted a bogey-free, career-low 7-under (63) to take the lead in the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open. Waring previously shot (65) twice on TOUR, most recently during the first round of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.
His round included a career-best 161’ 10” of putts made with his previous best: 136’ 9” at the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open/R1. Waring leads the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (5.342) and T1 in Scrambling (4/4). He holds the lead/co-lead for the first time after any round on TOUR
Waring made his second start at Texas Children’s Houston Open (MC/2025; 76-72).
Gary Woodland (2nd/-6) equalled the best opening-round score of his career with a (64) – the seventh occasion for that score and most recently at the 2024 Sanderson Farms Championship).
Woodland is bidding to become the first player to finish runner-up and then win the same tournament the next season since Robert MacIntyre (2023, 2024 Genesis Scottish Open).
Sam Burns (T3/-5) posted a 5-under (65) in his fifth start at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. He had back-to-back T7 finishes at Memorial Park Golf Course in 2020 and 2021.
Defending champion Min Woo Lee (T31/-2) shot a 2-under (68) as he seeks to become the second player to successfully defend a Texas Children’s Houston Open title (Vijay Singh/2005/GC of Houston).
Three of the four past Texas Children’s Houston Open champions in the field sit T11 or better: Stephan Jaeger (T6/-4), Adam Scott (T11/-3), Tony Finau(T11/-3), with Min Woo Lee (T31/-2) further back after 18 holes.
Aaron Rai (neck injury) WD prior to the first round and was replaced by Taylor Moore (T11/-3)
Houston Open Leaderboard | After 18 Holes
1 Paul Waring 63 (-7)
2 Gary Woodland 64 (-6)
T3 Sam Burns 65 (-5)
T3 Michael Brennan 65 (-5)
T3 Tom Hoge 65 (-5)
Full Leaderboard: (link)