One-and-Done Golf Picks for the Houston Open

As the PGA Tour returns to action, so do the one-and-done pools for golf contest players. 

For those unfamiliar, OAD pools closely mirror an NFL survivor contest. Players select a golfer each week and earn their prize money at the conclusion of the event. 

The catch? Contestants can only use a player once. Additionally, not all prize pools are created equally, which further adds to the game theory. 

Below, I’ve outlined three players worth a look for OAD pools this week at the Houston Open. 

Golf odds are reflective at the time of writing and are subject to movement. 

3 Best Golf One-and-Done Picks for the Houston Open

Option #1: Chris Gotterup (+2000)

Maybe you’ve already used Gotterup by this point. If you haven’t, his profile should lead to another strong finish at Memorial Park. 

Gotterup ranks third in driving distance and 12th in ball speed over the last nine months. He also places seventh and 18th, respectively, in SG: APP and SG: ARG. 

Perhaps most crucially, Gotterup ranks fifth in Par 5 birdies or better gained percentage in 2026. Generally speaking, players excel at Memorial Park by exploiting the three Par 5s. 

The only real knock against Gotterup is his putter. Over the last 50 rounds, he ranks 75th in SG: Putting. 

However, he putted to just over field average at TPC Sawgrass, which features a similar agronomy to Memorial Park. 

Gotterup, in my view, lacks the pedigree to win a major championship. A T-3rd at the 2025 Open remains his only top-10 at a major, so saving him offers little upside. 

Option #2: Min Woo Lee (+2000)

The defending champion could see a high ownership this week. If you’re someone playing from a trailing position, playing Lee could prove a risk. 

That said, Memorial Park clearly suits his game. Lee offers significant distance off the tee and a strong short game to help recover from errant approaches. 

He also arrives with two top-10 finishes in his last four events. That record includes a T-6th at Bay Hill, another long course requiring plus distance from the tee. 

At the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Lee averaged +1.15 SG: APP per round, gaining in all four rounds. Lee also leads the field in Par 5 birdie or better rate for 2026. 

In his last three events, Lee posted a birdie or better 27 times in 44 tries. 

That record, along with outstanding ball-striking metrics, render Lee a good option in OAD pools. 

Option #3: Michael Thorbjornsen (+3500)

I like Thorbjornsen’s profile quite a bit this week. The market moved on him early Monday as well, with the American dropping from +4000 at open. 

Thorbjornsen finished T-22nd at the Players. However, a Sunday 77 dropped him outside the top-five thanks to a quadruple bogey on the front nine. 

Before that implosion, Thorbjornsen showed spike potential at difficult courses. He placed inside the top-five at TPC Scottsdale after a top-20 at Torrey Pines. 

In his last eight rounds, Thorbjornsen spiked to 2+ SG: APP 25% of the time. Only two players recorded a higher spike record with their irons. 

He also owns a strong short game – 19th in SG: ARG over the last nine months – and ranks 23rd in bogey avoidance this season. 

Like Gotterup, Thorbjornsen lacks upside at a major or signature event. That renders him an intriguing option at potentially low ownership in Houston.