HOUSTON — For the first time since 2019, Gary Woodland gets to hoist a trophy from winning a golf tournament.
The former U.S. Open champion shot a 3-under par 67 during the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on Sunday. That was plenty enough for the Kansas native to finish 21-under par for the tournament to record his first PGA Tour victory since he won the 2019 U.S. Open nearly seven years ago.
The victory also earns Woodland a spot in the field for The Masters in two weeks.
It was the fairytale ending for the 41-year-old Woodland, who was diagnosed with a brain lesion in 2023, that required a lengthy brain surgery. Earlier this month, Woodland admitted that he had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to anxiety since his surgery.
Woodland started Sunday’s final round with four-straight pars, before carding a birdie on No. 5. After a par on No. 6, he would close out the front nine with three-straight birdies.
Woodland didn’t tear up the back nine as he carded four straight pars to start, before dropping a shot with a bogey on No. 14. He finished out with four-straight pars to seal the victory.
Nicolai Hojgaard finished in second place as he shot a 1-over par 71. His round was filled with ups and downs, with three bogeys and one double bogey, while also carding four birdies.
Defending tournament champion Min Woo Lee shot a 3-under 67 to finish tied for third with Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year Johnny Keefer who shot a 6-under par 64 on Sunday to finish 15-under par for the tournament.
Jason Day shot a 2-under 68 to finish tied for sixth, while Sahith Theegala shot a 2-under 68 to finish tied for 10th.
Former LSU All-American Sam Burns shot a 4-under 66 on Sunday to finish the tournament eight-under par and tied for 21st place. Adam Scott carded a 1-over 71 on Sunday to finish tied for 21st as well, but Scott did have a memorable moment. Scott made a hole-in-one on the par-three No. 11.
Scott wasn’t the only one to card an ace on Sunday, as did Shane Lowry who made a hole-in-one on the par-three No. 2. Lowry shot a two-under 68 on Sunday to finish seven-under for the tournament.
The PGA Tour heads to San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. The week after that will be the season’s first major — The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.