Gary Woodland Wins Houston Open, Claims First PGA Tour Title Since 2019 US Open

Woodland wins Houston Open 

Gary Woodland triumphs at Houston Open, overcoming PTSD and brain surgery struggles to claim his fifth PGA Tour title.

Gary Woodland wins Houston Open, credits support system for overcoming PTSD and brain surgery challenge...

Gary Woodland ended a title drought, winning the PGA Houston Open with a three-under 67 for a tournament-record 21-under 259.

Woodland, 41, beat Nicolai Hojgaard by five strokes, claiming his first title since the 2019 US Open, overcoming stress issues and brain surgery in 2023.

Woodland, speaking earlier this month, opened up about still battling PTSD following his 2023 brain tumor surgery.

This is what resilience looks like. pic.twitter.com/Bt0aC0hYsm

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 29, 2026

Woodland took his first victory in seven years, admitting he'd wanted to quit golf multiple times during his struggles.

“Anybody that's struggling with something, I hope they see me and don't give up, just keep fighting,” Woodland said, choking back tears on the 18th green.

"Everybody's battling something. I've told myself the whole time, I wasn't going to let this thing in my head win. From when I was diagnosed with this thing on my brain, the whole thing was I wasn't going to let it win ...

"Today was evidence of that." 🏆 pic.twitter.com/QHUcofgFl5

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 30, 2026

Spectators chanted Woodland's name on the 18th green, erupting in cheers as he sealed the win. He exhaled, then tearfully hugged wife Gabby.

“There's no chance I could do this without Gabby for sure,” Woodland said. “This has been hard on me, and a lot harder on her and I love her to death.

“We play an individual sport out here but I wasn't alone today. I've got a lot of people behind me, my team, my family and this golf world.”

Woodland's win was emotional, but he knows his personal struggles aren't over yet.

“It's just another day that I've got to keep healing. Today was a good day but I'm going to keep fighting,” he said. “I've got a big fight ahead of me and I'm going to keep going - but I'm proud of myself right now.”

"Those letters were the hardest thing I've ever done."

Before brain surgery in 2023, Gary Woodland wrote letters to his family.

The Full Swing @Netflix crew asked him about it, and his raw emotions speak for themselves. pic.twitter.com/megfJCcBFW

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 30, 2026

The win secures Woodland's Masters spot, his first since 2023 when he finished T14.

Woodland, leading after 54 holes for the first time since his US Open win, grabbed his fifth career title.

The 41-year-old, ranked 139, became the seventh player 40+ to win the Houston title, adding to his wins at Transitions Championship, Reno-Tahoe Open, and Phoenix Open.

Defending champion Min Woo Lee of Australia shared third on 265 with American Johnny Keefer.

A win for sports ❤️ pic.twitter.com/YiBGD7K730

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 30, 2026

Woodland sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the fifth hole and closed out the front nine with three birdies in a row -- a putt from just inside 25 feet at the par-three seventh, a tap-in after landing his approach inches from the hole at the par-five eighth and a 29-foot putt at the par-three ninth.

Woodland missed a six-foot par putt at the 14th but the stumble made no difference at the end.

“I'm just so pleased for Gary playing so well,” Australian Adam Scott said. “It's inspirational.”

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Scott, the 2013 Masters winner, aced the 189-yard par-three 11th hole on his way to shooting 71 and finishing on 272.

Lowry also had an ace, though it didn't translate to a top finish.

“It was a little into the wind, and the wind was tricky for me,” Scott said. “Kind of back-footed an 8-iron and it just drew in there perfect.”

Lowry aced the 170-yard par-three second hole, firing a 68 to finish on 273.

“I have a little cut 75 7-iron that I hit and it just come out perfect,” Lowry said. “Just hit a beautiful shot.”