PGA Tour Brunch | Recap of Houston Open
Gary Woodland Takes 2026 Texas Children's Houston Open
By TERRY LYONS, Editor: Digital Sports Desk
HOUSTON - Gary Woodland became the first player to finish runner-up and then win the same tournament the next season since Robert MacIntyre accomplished the feat in 2023/24 at the Genesis Scottish Open). Woodland’s win at the Texas Children’s Houston Open completed a comeback of the ages.
The initial “story” began in early 2023, when Woodland started experiencing terrifying symptoms:
Intense Fear & Nightmares: He was frequently jolted awake by the sensation of falling to his death and constant thoughts of dying.
Physical Symptoms: He suffered from hand tremors, chills, loss of appetite, and seizures at night.
The Diagnosis: An MRI revealed a lesion on his brain. Doctors informed him he wasn’t “going crazy” but that the tumor was physically triggering his fear response.
High-Stakes Surgery: In September 2023, surgeons removed about half of the lesion (as much as possible without risking his eyesight), which required cutting a baseball-sized hole in his skull.
Although the surgery was a success, Woodland drifted into a state of Post Traumatic Stress and fought the fear and anxiety that accompanied it.
The PTSD Struggle on Tour
The aftermath led to a diagnosis of PTSD, which Woodland kept private for a year while continuing to compete.
Hypervigilance: On the golf course, Woodland felt a constant “search for threats.” In one notable incident in Napa, a walking scorer startled him from behind, causing his eyesight to go blurry and making him unable to remember what club he was hitting.
Emotional Burden: Despite fans celebrating his “100% recovery,” Woodland admitted he felt like he was “dying inside” and “living a lie” by hiding his struggle. He recounted frequently hiding in bathrooms to cry during tournament rounds.
Seeking Support: In March 2026, he went public with the diagnosis to stop “wasting energy” on hiding it. The PGA TOUR subsequently established protocols and heightened security to help him feel safer while competing.
Woodland’s journey culminated in the major professional and emotional milestone when he won the Houston Open this weekend, his first PGA Tour victory since the 2019 U.S. Open.
He noted that opening up about the PTSD helped him feel “a thousand pounds lighter,” eventually allowing him to regain his championship form. And, the form that gains him a trip to Augusta for the 2026 Masters in a couple of weeks.
Two players in the field who were not yet exempt qualified for the Masters Tournament via the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking: Nicolai Højgaard /2nd, and Jake Knapp/T6.
Houston Open | Final Leaderboard
1 Gary Woodland 64 63 65 67 259 (-21)
2 Nicolai Højgaard 68 62 63 71 264 (-16)
T3 Johnny Keefer 67 68 66 64 265 (-15)
T3 Min Woo Lee 68 63 67 67 265 (-15)
5 Sam Stevens 67 65 67 67 266 (-14)
Full Leaderboard: (link)
Quick Look
FedEx Cup Points (link)
PGA Tour Brunch will publish at 12 Noon on Wednesday
What They’re Saying
Woodland Wins; Completes Comeback (ESPN)
Woodland’s Strong Message (Golf Week)
Payouts from Houston (PGATourCom)
Sporting Goods and PGA Tour Industry News
Gary Woodland’s Winner’s Bag (Golf Week)
Alex Fitz Joins Brother (ESPNCom)
On This Day in Golf History
March 30, 1975 - Davis Love III won The PLAYERS Championship by four strokes over Ian Baker-Finch, Phil Blackmar, Nick Faldo and Tom Watson. Love shot a final round (67) to post a (273) total, 15-under par. - Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Parting Putts
And a MUST WATCH:
This Week
About PGA Tour Brunch
PGA Tour Brunch is brought to you by: DIGITAL SPORTS DESK
This e-Newsletter is designed to give golf fans basic news and updated information on the PGA Tour and its tournament of the week. On most days, it will arrive in your inbox at Noon (ET) (usually) six days a week (not Tuesdays). As the tour switches time zones, we might adjust.
While there’s a glut of e-News flooding your inbox every morning, PGA Tour Brunch will provide you with some interesting reading at lunchtime. We are not affiliated with the PGA Tour or any tournament but rather an accredited news outlet. Let us know if you are interested in a partnership. This is not affiliated with the PGA Tour organization.|