Gary Woodland’s Houston Open win came with a heartwarming message

Gary Woodland has faced more than his share of stressful situations. His back nine on Sunday was not for them.

By the time he made the cut in the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open, Woodland had stretched his lead to five and turned his afternoon into a stroll at Memorial Park — even if it didn’t feel like it.

“It felt a lot closer than five in my head, I can tell you that,” Woodland said after his win.

What remained was a victory march – accompanied by deep breathing that has become a central part of his style – that returned him to the winner’s circle for the first time since winning the US Open at Pebble Beach nearly seven years ago.

“Anyone who has a problem with something, I hope they see me and don’t give up,” said a choked Woodland after the final fall.

“It’s another day, okay, that I have to keep healing. Today was a good day. But I’m going to keep fighting. I have a big fight ahead of me and I’m going to keep going, but I’m proud right now.”

The emotional release was the latest offloading for the 41-year-old who has battled demons stronger than most Tour pros have faced. Two and a half years ago, Woodland was sidelined for four months after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. Upon his return, he confessed to feelings of fear and anxiety, a revelation that only showed the full depth of his struggle. Two weeks ago at the Players Championship, the full picture emerged when Woodland revealed to the Golf Channel that he had been diagnosed with PTSD following his surgery, and that doctors had told him that “in an ideal world,” he would not compete at all.

Even so, he had been a soldier, and there were negative consequences. In his last 55 matches before this week, the best he managed was two top 10 finishes – one of which was second at last year’s Houston Open.

Through difficult times, Woodland remained open about his problems, a transparency that deepened his relationship with fans and raised his standing among his peers.

After a sluggish start to 2026, last week’s T14 at Valspar hinted that something might be building. Key to Woodland’s return to form was a renewed relationship with wrestling coach Randy Smith, with whom Woodland began working in 2005. A business conflict ended their relationship. At the urging of his wife Gabby, Woodland reconnected with Smith, who, Woodland said, got him to stop swinging the ball and swing freely again. This week, he led the Tour in driving distance.

“Randy has put me in a place now, my game is better than before,” said Woodland.

“He’s more than a golf coach to me. He always has been,” Woodland said Sunday of Smith. “I needed him more than golf, he stood up and helped me get to this point right here.”

Gary Woodland started Sunday with one shot over Nicolai Højgaard and six over the third player in their group, Min Woo Lee, who edged Woodland by a stroke at last year’s Houston Open. That lead quickly doubled when Højgaard birdied the first hole. From there, Woodland slowly took off, turning what could have been a tense afternoon into something closer to graduation.

It wasn’t just the driver who did the work. Woodland cruised the Memorial’s big round green without three putts all week. As he walked up the 18th fairway Sunday, his victory just a rite of passage, his two teammates stood and applauded, Lee lifting the spirits by urging the crowd to chant “Gary! Gary.”

“I’m telling you, we play every game out here, but I was alone today,” Woodland said.

When his last putter came down for par, Woodland raised his hands, looked up at the sky, and fell into Gabby’s arms in tears.

His closing 67 left him at 21-under, the tournament record, five shots clear of Højgaard. But not all victories are measured in strokes.

“I’m just thankful. I’ve been blessed to be able to chase my dreams, there’s no doubt about that,” Woodland said as he sat next to the trophy. “I know it’s hard but life is hard, right? Everyone is fighting something. I told myself all the time that I wouldn’t let this thing in my head succeed. From the moment I was diagnosed with this thing in my mind, everything was like, I wouldn’t let it succeed. Today was proof of that.”