There are still plenty of top players here, such as World No.1 for much of this year Scottie Scheffler, and a genuinely interesting host venue on display.

This is also the penultimate full field PGA Tour event of 2022 in the last year of the wraparound schedule, so get your fill while you can.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: In what will become more common place next year, we have a defending champion without the opportunity to defend his title this week.

Jason Kokrak now plies his trade on the LIV Golf Tour and as such won’t appear in Houston courtesy of his PGA Tour ban.

This event last year was the American’s third PGA Tour win in 28 starts and came via a hot weekend to reach 10-under-par to pip Scottie Scheffler and Kevin Tway by two shots.

COURSE: Something unique for the PGA Tour takes centre stage again this week in the form of Memorial Park Golf Course.

RIGHT: Now a LIV Golf player, Jason Kokrak won't defend his 2021 title in Texas this week. PHOTO: Andy Lyons/Getty Images.

Opening in 1912 and hosting the American circuit years back, the public course in Houston underwent a dramatic renovation at the hands of Tom Doak with some help from player advisor Brooks Koepka.

The result is a course with interesting putting surfaces and surrounds that is designed for the regular golfer but also to provide opportunities for lead changes and excitement when the big show comes to town.

Measuring 7,412 yards and playing to a par of 70, good putters tend to find success here and the winning scores of 10-under and 13-under in its two years as host since the redesign suggest anything in double digits under the card should be in the hunt for the title this week.

PRIZEMONEY: US$8,400,000

RELATED: So-called expert tips

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Fresh off a Sunday 62 to nab a T3, Scottie Scheffler is a big chance in his home state where he performed well at this course last year.

As a major winner and former World No.1, Scheffler’s game is obviously good and he appeared to find something last week in Mexico and is the sort of player for whom playing at home means a significant amount.

There is plenty to like about Scottie Scheffler this week in Houston. PHOTO: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images.

Scheffler finished behind Russell Henley last week, with the winner of the World Wide Technology Championship putting together a very complete performance in Mayakoba that should have him in the mix again here.

Henley is a former winner of this event, at a different course mind, but clearly likes playing in the state of Texas.

Hideki Matsuyama gives this field some star power, but Japan’s first Masters winner is in search of his best golf.

A T40 at home in the ZOZO was a shock, and Matsuyama could only improve that result by six places in his only other start since at the CJ Cup. Intriguing to see if he has worked things out a little.

Sam Burns is a very solid performer who has a knack for claiming wins on golf courses that don’t yield stacks of bridies, so could be in the running here where he has been T7 twice since Memorial Park returned to the PGA Tour fold in 2020.

Jason Day is determined to find his best golf, and hasn’t been far off doing just that of late.

The Aussie is one of the few bigger names not coming home, and will be keen to get more results on the board before he puts the clubs away for the northern winter.

72-HOLE RECORD: 266, Curtis Strange and Lee Trevino (1980), Vijay Singh (2002).

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Bruce Devlin (1972); Bruce Crampton (1973 and 1975); David Graham (1983); Stuart Appleby (1999 and 2006); Robert Allenby (2000); Adam Scott (2007); Matt Jones (2014).

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Jason Day.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 5am – 8am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 5am – 8am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 5am – 8am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 5am – 8am)
*AEDT, check local guides