Gary Woodland shot a 5-under 65 to move to 18 under par and one stroke ahead of Nicolai Hojgaard in the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
The American is seeking his first victory since the 2019 US Open and has become one of the most respected figures in golf as he continues his recovery from brain surgery in September 2023.
Earlier this month, he spoke publicly about his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, describing the relief and emotional pain of finally sharing his struggles.
On the course, Woodland’s game seems revitalized. The iron shaft change helped him regain control as his speed returned, and he showed full control of his swing all week.
He was particularly sharp on Saturday, drilling a 2-iron over the water for a birdie on the par-5 16th and nearly driving the green on the short par-4 17th to set up another.
Gary Woodland leads by one stroke heading into Sunday’s final round at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
Hojgaard followed up his 62 on Friday with a 63, matching him shot-for-shot.
The 25-year-old Dane has recorded 15 birdies and an eagle over the past two rounds and remains in contention for his first PGA Tour victory. Already ranked 47th in the world, he is virtually guaranteed to advance to the Masters unless an unexpected scenario unfolds.
Defending champion Lee Min-woo (67) and Michael Torbjornsen (66) are 5 strokes behind. Sunday carries huge stakes for Thorbjornsen, currently ranked 56th. Finishing in the top eight will secure an invitation to the first Masters.
Meanwhile, Woodland needs a win to get back to Augusta, but that goal remains secondary to the personal journey he’s endured.
Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard is one stroke behind the leader.
His surgery removed part of the lesion that had caused him overwhelming fear and anxiety, and he described moments of collapsing mid-round and hiding in the bathroom. He said sharing his story made him feel “1,000 pounds lighter.”
Now his focus is on finishing off the win at Memorial Park, where he finished runner-up last year. He leads the team in approach play and, with the help of a slightly adjusted putter, ranks second in putting.
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Hojgaard, a 2023 Ryder Cup rookie who has won three DP World Tour titles, is looking forward to fighting until the end, saying “I plan on continuing the fight” as the final round unfolds.
Watch the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open live Sky Sports Golf From 1:15 PM on Sunday. There is also coverage on Sky Sports Main Event From 8:15 p.m.
