Tranlate this title Gary Woodland triumphs at Texas Children’s in spanish

Gary Woodland won the Texas Children’s Houston Open, earning his first victory on the PGA Tour since undergoing brain surgery. It was an emotional moment that seemed impossible just 30 months ago.

Woodland entered the final round with a one-shot lead and dominated the day, extending his lead to seven shots before calmly managing the final round. He finished with an excellent 67 (-3) and won by five shots over Nicolai Højgaard.

Gary Woodland, results

On the 18th green, Woodland holed a five-foot putt for par. He raised both arms to the sky, took a deep breath, and then the tears flowed freely. «Golf is an individual sport, but I wasn’t alone today,» Woodland said, his voice cracking with emotion. «To anyone who’s struggling with something, I hope they see me and don’t give up. Keep fighting.»

Woodland had always been a popular and talented player, moving from college (where he played two sports) to the PGA Tour. But in 2023, he began to experience serious problems: he discovered he had a brain injury that was causing him an unfounded fear of death. Surgery, in September 2023, involved the removal of a portion of his skull the size of a baseball. Much of the lesion was removed.

His return in January 2024 seemed positive, especially with his second-place finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open the previous year, but deep down, Woodland was fighting a tough battle with post-traumatic stress disorder. In an interview two weeks ago, he finally shared his struggles: «I appreciate all the love and support, but inside, I feel like I’m dying and living a lie. I want to achieve my dreams on the course, but I also want to help people. Now I realize that I have to help myself first.» This week, he admitted he still had some tough moments, such as when some fans got too close to the tee of the ninth hole, triggering a state of hypervigilance. Yet he was able to reset and continue.

Physically, his strength never failed him: on a drive on Sunday, he reached a ball speed of approximately 195 mph, but even more impressive was his fluid and precise control on every shot.

Woodland finished the tournament at 21 under par, the lowest score in Houston Open history. It’s the fifth victory of his career and the first since his victory at the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. This result guarantees him an invitation to the Masters in two weeks.

Højgaard lost ground with a double bogey on the seventh hole and finished with a 71. In addition to finishing second, he earned a significant consolation prize: climbing from 47th to 36th in the world rankings, earning him a spot in the Masters.

A gesture of great sportsmanship marked the final moment: both Højgaard and defending champion Min Woo Lee (who shot a 67) stopped before reaching the green on the 18th, leaving Woodland the stage to himself. «We thought it was right to give him his moment,» Højgaard commented. «It was nice for Gary and nice to see. I’m really happy for him.»

There was no way to control the emotions, especially in the final hour, when the outcome was already sealed, and on the 18th when victory became a reality. «It’s just another day. Today was a good day,» Woodland said with a smile and a short laugh. «But I still have a big battle ahead of me, and I’ll keep fighting. Now, though, I’m proud of myself.»

This victory propels Woodland to 51st in the world rankings, his best in five years, and makes him eligible for all remaining elite events of the season on the PGA Tour.

Among other notable results: rookie Johnny Keefer finished with an excellent 64 and tied for third place.