The tournament played without sponsorship this past spring, as Shell—which had endorsed the tournament for 25 years—declined to renew after 2017. The Houston Open also appears to have lost its place on the schedule, with the Valero Texas Open reported to be sliding into the pre-Masters slot. These factors, coupled with the possible addition of a Detroit tournament and the tour's wish to condense its calendar, paint an ominous forecast for the Houston event.