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Gary Woodland Wins Houston Open Five Months After Brain Surgery

29 March, 2026.Sports.18 sources

Key Takeaways

Woodland won the Houston Open, his first PGA Tour victory in seven years.
Finished 21-under, five shots clear of Nicolai Hojgaard.
Emotional victory came after brain surgery and a PTSD diagnosis.

Emotional Comeback Victory

Gary Woodland won the Houston Open by five shots over Nicolai Hojgaard.

“HOUSTON — For the first time since 2019, Gary Woodland gets to hoist a trophy from winning a golf tournament”

103.7 The Game

It was his first PGA Tour victory since undergoing brain surgery five months earlier.

103.7 The Game

Woodland broke down in tears as he reflected on his battle with PTSD.

Post-Traumatic Stress Battle

Woodland had surgery to remove a brain tumor in September 2023.

He was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

BBC

He urged others struggling to not give up and just keep fighting.

Dominant Final Round

Woodland built a six-stroke lead through nine holes of the final round.

“Texas Children's Houston Open, final round leaderboard -21 G Woodland (US); -16 N Hojgaard (Den); -15 J Keefer (US), M W Lee (Aus); -14 S Stevens (US); -13 S Yellamaraju (Can), J Day (Aus), J Knapp (US), C Gotterup (US) Selected others: -7 S Lowry (Ire), H Hall (Eng); -6 P Waring (Eng); -5 J Smith (Eng); -4 J Parry (Eng); -3 M Wallace (Eng); -2 D Willett (Eng) Gary Woodland broke down in tears after sealing his first victory in seven years by winning the Houston Open”