Houston– gary woodland Won the Houston Open on Sunday, an emotional moment that seemed so impossible 30 months ago when he had brain surgery, and even two weeks ago when he spoke about his frightening experience with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Woodland looked better than ever at Memorial Park, taking a one-shot lead into the final round and extending it to seven shots en route to a trophy that felt as big as her US Open title at Pebble Beach in 2019.
He closed with a 3-under 67 to win by five shots over nikolai hojgaard.
The gallery stopped chanting his name so Woodland could roll in a 5-foot par putt. She spread both her hands, exhaled and looked towards the blue sky, before her tears started flowing.
“We play individual games here, but I wasn’t alone today,” Woodland said, his voice shaking with emotion. “Anybody struggling with something, I hope they look at me and don’t give up. Just keep fighting.”
Woodland has been a popular figure and powerful player since he left a two-sport college career (basketball, golf) and joined the PGA Tour. But he begins to struggle in 2023, when he discovers that he has a lesion in part of his brain, leading to unfounded fears that he is dying.
In September 2023, he underwent surgery, in which a baseball-sized hole was cut through the side of his head to remove most of the lesion. He looked fine when he returned in January 2024 and was runner-up at the Houston Open last year. But he suffered badly from PTSD, once running to a portable bathroom to cry out of emotion.
He decided to share his struggles in a Golf Channel interview two weeks ago.
He said in the interview, “I appreciate all that love and support. But inside I feel like I’m dying, and I feel like I’m lying.” “I want to live my dreams and be successful here. But I also want to help people. Now I realize I have to help myself first.”
He said this week that going public made him feel “1,000 pounds lighter.” His physical strength certainly did not desert him.
Woodland reached 196 mph on a tee shot Sunday, and what was more impressive was the effortless control he showed on every shot. He finished at 21-under 259 for his first win since the US Open and the fifth of his career.
The period of six years, 286 days from a major win to a player’s next PGA Tour victory was the fourth longest period in the last 40 years.
And it came with a big bonus – it qualified him for the Masters in two weeks.
Hojgaard fell back with a double bogey on the par-3 seventh hole. He finished with 71 and a consolation prize. He secured his place in the world top 50 to ensure his invitation to the Masters.
Højgaard and the defending champions min woo lee (67) decided to stop on his way to the 18th green to give Woodland the stage to himself, a gesture rarely seen outside the majors. This brought about the popularity of woodland in golf.
“We thought it would be fair to give him his chance,” Hojgaard said. “It was a great moment for Gary, and it was good to see. I’m really happy for him.”
Woodland felt great relief by sharing his PTSD struggles, and he got some technical help with his golf. He switched to a new putter to help with his alignment, and he consulted with coach Randy Smith before adding a stiffer shaft to his irons as his speed returned and it helped him have better control of his shots.
There was no chance to control his emotions, certainly in the last hour when the result was clear and the 18th hole when it became reality.
But he said it’s still golf, and there’s still a battle to recover from brain surgery.
“It’s just another day. Today was a good day,” Woodland said with a smile and a little laugh. “But I have a big fight ahead of me and I’m going to keep moving forward. But right now I’m proud of myself.”
His wife, Gabby, accompanied him for all 18 holes along with their three children at home. Woodland has said that his wife was instrumental in his surgery and what happened afterward.
“It’s been hard for me. It’s been very hard for her,” he said.
The win moves him to No. 51 in the world – his highest ranking in five years – and makes him eligible for all of the PGA Tour’s remaining elite events this season.
Also Sunday, Michael Thorbjornsen He was in position to break into the top 50 and enter the Masters until he made three bogeys in a four-hole stretch on the back nine and faltered to a 72, falling out of the top 10.
shane lowry Made a hole-in-one on the second hole, his fourth on the PGA Tour. Others came 7th at Pebble Beach, 17th at TPC Sawgrass and 12th at Augusta National. adam scott Also hit an ace on the 11th hole.
Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.
