Gary Woodland Leads in Houston as He Seeks First Win Since 2019 US Open

Woodland, who underwent brain surgery in 2023, is one round away from his first victory since his major championship triumph.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 10:49pm

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Gary Woodland holds the 54-hole lead at the Houston Open as he seeks his first PGA Tour victory since winning the 2019 US Open. Woodland, who underwent brain surgery in 2023 and has been open about his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, is at 18-under par and one shot ahead of Rasmus Højgaard. Defending champion Min Woo Lee and Michael Thorbjornsen are five shots back.

Why it matters

Woodland's comeback from brain surgery and his openness about his mental health challenges have made him a popular figure in golf. A win would be an inspiring comeback story, and it could also secure Woodland a spot in the upcoming Masters tournament.

The details

Woodland has played excellent golf this week, leading the field in approach shots to the green and ranking second in putting. He made key birdies down the stretch on Saturday to maintain his lead over Højgaard, who has three European Tour wins but is still seeking his first PGA Tour title. Thorbjornsen, who is currently ranked 56th in the world, is looking to crack the top 50 and earn a spot in the Masters with a strong finish.

  • Woodland underwent brain surgery in September 2023.
  • Woodland opened up about his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder earlier this month at The Players Championship.
  • Woodland last won a major championship at the 2019 US Open.

The players

Gary Woodland

An American professional golfer who won the 2019 US Open. He underwent brain surgery in 2023 and has been open about his recovery and mental health challenges.

Rasmus Højgaard

A 25-year-old Danish professional golfer who has three wins on the European Tour, including the 2023 DP World Tour Championship. He is seeking his first PGA Tour victory.

Min Woo Lee

The defending champion of the Houston Open.

Michael Thorbjornsen

An American professional golfer who is currently ranked 56th in the world and is looking to crack the top 50 to earn a spot in the upcoming Masters tournament.

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What they’re saying

“I've just got to take a deep breath. I'll have a good night ahead of me tonight to recover and rest, and tomorrow just don't get ahead of yourself. I'm here, I put myself in this position for a reason, so take a deep breath and maintain what I'm doing.”

— Gary Woodland

“You know it's going to be a grind, you know it's going to come down to potentially the last few holes anyway. So you've just got to stay in the fight and play your best and do your best and then let's see where we end up.”

— Rasmus Højgaard

What’s next

Woodland will look to secure his first PGA Tour victory since the 2019 US Open on Sunday. A win would be an inspiring comeback story and could also earn him a spot in the upcoming Masters tournament.

The takeaway

Gary Woodland's comeback from brain surgery and his openness about his mental health struggles have made him a popular figure in golf. A win at the Houston Open would be a remarkable achievement and an inspiring story of perseverance.