Gary Woodland won the Houston Open on Sunday, a moment that seemed improbable 30 months ago when he had brain surgery, and even two weeks ago when he opened up about his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Woodland looked close to his best at Memorial Park, coasting home to a trophy that felt as important as his US Open title at Pebble Beach in 2019.
He closed with a three-under 67 to win by five shots over Nicolai Hojgaard. The gallery chanted Woodland’s name before falling silent so he could roll in the winning putt.
“We play an individual sport out here, but I wasn’t alone today,” Woodland said, who was in tears after sealing victory. “Anyone struggling with something, I hope they see me and don’t give up. Just keep fighting.”
Woodland has been a popular figure ever since he joined the PGA Tour. But he began to struggle in 2023, only to learn he had a lesion on his brain that caused him to have unfounded thoughts that he was dying.
Surgery in September 2023, which involved having a baseball-sized hole cut from the side of his head, removed much of the lesion. He appeared to be fine when he returned to the tour in early 2024, particularly when he was runner-up at last year’s Houston Open.
But he was suffering with PTSD, once leaving the course in the middle of a round to break down in tears. Two weeks ago he shared his struggles in a Golf Channel interview.
“I appreciate that love and support. But inside, I feel like I’m dying, and I feel like I’m living a lie,” he said in the interview. “I want to live my dreams and be successful out here. But I want to help people, too. I realize now I’ve got to help myself first.”
The 41-year-old said this week going public made him feel “1,000lbs lighter.” He says he still has moments in which he struggles, such as when fans got too close to him on the ninth tee on Friday, an incident that made him feel hypervigilant. He said he was in tears after the second round before he reset and got on with his routine.
“Coming out, talking and asking for help, I didn’t do that last year. I didn’t do that early this year,” Woodland said. “I’m in a fight. With the love and support I have around me, I have hope.”
Sunday’s win was his first victory since the US Open, and the fifth of his career. This one came with a big bonus – it makes him eligible for the Masters in two weeks.
Hojgaard and defending champion Min Woo Lee chose to stay back on their way to the 18th green to give Woodland the stage to himself, a gesture rarely seen outside the majors. It spoke to Woodland’s standing on the PGA Tour.
“We thought it was appropriate to let him have his moment,” Hojgaard said. “It was a pretty cool moment for Gary and it was cool to see. I’m really happy for him.”
Woodland felt huge relief by sharing his PTSD struggles, but says his recovery from his brain surgery is ongoing.
“It’s just another day. Today was a good day,” Woodland said with a smile and a short laugh. “But I’ve got a big fight ahead of me, and I’m going to keep going. But I’m proud of myself right now.”
His wife, Gabby Granado, was with him on the course while their three children stayed at home. Woodland has said Granado was vital to his recovery. “This has been hard on me. It’s been a lot harder on her,” he said.
The victory moves Woodland to No 51 in the world – his highest ranking in five years – and makes him eligible for all the PGA Tour’s remaining elite events this season.
