Gary Woodland establishes a 3-stroke advantage at the Houston Open.
HOUSTON — Gary Woodland experienced a sense of relief after discussing his mental health challenges publicly, and he appeared more liberated than ever on Friday, posting a 7-under 63 in the Houston Open to establish a three-shot advantage heading into the weekend at Memorial Park.
Woodland expressed greater satisfaction with his ability to remain positive after a poor swing than with his finish of three consecutive birdies, which helped him create some distance from the competition.
He stands at 13-under 127, three strokes ahead of Nicolai Hojgaard (62) and Jackson Suber (63) on a day that offered favorable scoring conditions for most players.
Brooks Koepka was an exception. Following a 75 that included three double bogeys in the opening round, Koepka recorded a triple bogey on the par-3 second hole, his 11th of the day. He finished with a 69, missing the cut for the second time since his return from LIV Golf.
Woodland struggled off the tee, hitting only five fairways, but Memorial Park provides ample space to play aggressively, and he was seldom out of position. He concluded his round with a wedge to 3 feet on the par-5 16th, a 15-foot birdie on the 17th, and a 12-foot birdie on the 18th.
However, he was particularly mindful of a tee shot that found the water left of the 13th fairway, resulting in a penalty drop and necessitating a 4-foot putt to salvage a bogey.
“I was proud of myself because what Randy Smith, my coach, refers to as an ‘oops.’ I had a poor swing on 13, and despite hitting the ball well the past couple of days, I didnβt let that affect me,” Woodland stated. “I reminded myself to move on, and I succeeded in doing that. It was a significant change for me to let it go and continue with the strong play I’ve shown over the last few days.”
The 2019 U.S. Open champion has demonstrated a well-rounded game, maintaining control of his swing and confidence on the greens after identifying an alignment issue and switching his putter for improvement.
Overall, he feels considerable support and increased comfort following his choice to openly address his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder. Woodland is recovering from brain surgery in September 2023 to remove a lesion in a part of the brain associated with episodes of unwarranted fear.
He felt “1,000 pounds lighter” after that interview with Golf Channel. Additionally, he is sensing encouragement from the crowd in Houston as he pursues a victory that would qualify him for the Masters.
“There’s no doubt, and I draw energy from that,” Woodland remarked. “This week, more than any other, I feel a lot of support. It feels somewhat like playing at home. The fans have been incredible. I rely on that energy to help me throughout the day, and it certainly aids my performance. I hope to carry that momentum into the weekend as well.”
Hojgaard is also focused on the Masters. Currently ranked No. 47 in the world, the top 50 players after this week will earn invitations to Augusta National in two weeks. Hojgaard alleviated much uncertainty with his round of 62, finishing with birdies on his last four holes.
“It’s easy to say it’s not on my mind, that good golf will take care of it,” Hojgaard commented regarding the Masters. “It’s definitely on my mind 100%. We all aspire to be there. However, while Iβm playing, I didnβt think about it today. I believe my game is strong enough to qualify, but there are still two more days here in Houston, and I feel good about my performance.”
Defending champion Min Woo Lee and Jason Day each carded 63 and are four shots back, with Michael Thorbjornsen (64) another stroke behind. Thorbjornsen, currently ranked No. 56 in the world, missed a significant opportunity to improve his ranking with a difficult Sunday at The Players Championship, but he is positioned well heading into the weekend in Houston.
Pierceson Coody’s chances for the Masters have taken a significant blow. The grandson of 1971 Masters champion Charles Coody is ranked No. 51 in the world. However, he had to withdraw due to a back injury on Friday morning. He is projected to drop to No. 50, but would need no players to surpass him.
