OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Astros owner Jim Crane makes major league save of Houston Open golf tournament
Steven Devadanam
Jun 12, 2018, 4:41 pm
Crane (right) announced that his Astros Foundation is taking over the Houston Open. Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan
This story originally appeared on CultureMap/Houston.
Houston’s most iconic golf tournament has a new benefactor, thanks to a major league move by Astros owner Jim Crane.
Crane’s Astros Foundation announced on June 12 that it has a five-year agreement with the PGA Tour to run the Houston Open starting in the fall of 2019. The date of the tournament was not announced. The prize money will be $7.5 million.
The Astros Foundation — the team charity of the Houston Astros — will use a consortium of local sponsors for financial support of the tournament, according to a statement from the foundation.
“The Astros Foundation has always committed to giving back to our community,” said Crane, in a statement. “The funds raised by this tournament will allow us to continue our commitment to serving the people within our county and city and help improve our parks.”
Fans, followers, and organizers of the nationally relevant tournament have expressed concerns over the Houston Open’s future, as it was without a title sponsor — since Shell Oil declined to renew its contract after the 2017 tournament.
The Houston Golf Association ran it without a title sponsor this year, and the tour struggled to find a replacement. The announcement also means the Houston Golf Association is no longer the host organization of the Houston Open after 72 years.
Next season will be the first time the Houston Open is not part of the PGA Tour season since 1969. The Houston Open dates to 1946 when Byron Nelson won at River Oaks Country Club. The always nattily attired Ian Poulter won this year.
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Jeremy Peña homered and Yordan Alvarez got his first hit this season, a tiebreaking double in the sixth inning that lifted the Houston Astros to a 2-1 win over the New York Mets on Saturday night.
Houston took two of three in a season-opening series between 2024 playoff teams.
Spencer Arrighetti (1-0) allowed just one hit, a first-inning double to Juan Soto, and one run with five strikeouts in six innings. Astros closer Josh Hader walked Soto to start the ninth before retiring the next three batters for his second save, completing the one-hitter.
The game was tied with two outs in the sixth when Alvarez knocked a double off the wall in center field to send Isaac Paredes home from first base, putting Houston on top 2-1.
Griffin Canning (0-1) gave up four hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings in his Mets debut.
Canning had allowed just one hit on a leadoff single to Jose Altuve when Peña gave the Astros their first homer this season on his shot to the seats in left field with no outs in the fifth to make it 1-0.
Soto doubled with one out in the first and Brandon Nimmo walked with two outs. Arrighetti retired the next 13 batters before walking Jose Siri to start the sixth.
Siri stole second against his former team before advancing to third on a flyout by Francisco Lindor.
Soto then grounded out to Arrighetti and Siri dashed home, sliding in just before the tag to tie it at 1.
The Mets went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
Key moment
The double by Alvarez that gave Houston the lead for good.
Key stat
Canning, who spent his first five seasons with the Angels, fell to 0-4 in 10 career starts against the Astros.
Up next
Both teams are off Sunday before Houston hosts the Giants for a three-game series beginning Monday night and the Mets play at Miami that night.