Woodland takes a one-shot lead in Houston, marking his first 54-hole advantage since 2019.
HOUSTON — Gary Woodland had to work diligently to maintain his lead on Saturday at the Houston Open, finishing with a 5-under 65 that put him one stroke ahead of Nicolai Hojgaard as he seeks his first victory since the 2019 U.S. Open.
Both Woodland and Hojgaard (63) played flawlessly during the final hour at Memorial Park, creating a gap as they head into Sunday, with no other competitors within five shots.
Woodland has gained popularity in the golf community due to his resilience following brain surgery in September 2023, and he recently opened up about his challenges with post-traumatic stress disorder during a heartfelt interview at The Players Championship.
His performance on the course has been impressive, showcasing excellent control of his swing and full utilization of his athletic abilities.
“I’ve just got to take a deep breath,” Woodland stated. “Iβll have a good night to recover and rest, and tomorrow I just need to stay focused. I’m here because I earned this position, so Iβll take a deep breath and continue what I’m doing.”
Woodland stands at 18-under 192, marking the first time he has held the 54-hole lead since his major victory at Pebble Beach in 2019. A recent adjustment to the shafts in his irons has contributed to his performance, as he noticed a loss of control with his increasing speed.
He was particularly strong in the closing holes, especially with Hojgaard pursuing him. Woodland struck a 2-iron over the water and onto the green at the par-5 16thβone of only five players to reach the green in twoβfor a two-putt birdie.
His drive on the reachable par-4 17th landed in the bunker with such force that it bounced out onto the collar, allowing him to pitch down to 5 feet for another birdie.
Hojgaard kept pace, executing a solid chip on the 16th for a birdie and successfully getting up-and-down from a bunker on the 17th for another. The Dane made a strong comeback with a 62 on Friday and continued his effective play on Saturday with a 63, accumulating 15 birdies and one eagle over the last two rounds.
Defending champion Min Woo Lee (67) and Michael Thorbjornsen (66) are five shots back. Sunday is significant for Thorbjornsen, who is ranked No. 56 in the world. The top 50 after this week will receive invitations to the Masters, and the Massachusetts native likely needs to finish no worse than eighth place.
Hojgaard is not currently in the Masters, but at No. 47, he is nearly assured of remaining in the top 50 unless an unexpected series of events occurs at Memorial Park.
Woodland would require a victory to qualify for the Masters, but even that consideration is secondary given his recent experiences.
The surgery involved removing a substantial portion of a lesion that was causing irrational fears of death. He returned to the PGA Tour at the beginning of 2024, but it was only recently that he disclosed his struggles with PTSD, including moments of crying during rounds and occasionally needing to hide in the bathroom.
Sharing this publicly was a significant relief for Woodland, who mentioned earlier this week that he felt “1,000 pounds lighter.”
Now, the focus shifts to winning the Houston Open, where he finished as a runner-up last year. Woodland leads the field in approach shots to the green and ranks second in puttingβthanks in part to a slightly new putter that has improved his alignment.
Challenging him will be Hojgaard, who made his Ryder Cup debut in 2023 for Europe. His identical twin, Rasmus, has already qualified for the Masters.
The 25-year-old Dane has three victories on the European Tour, including the DP World Tour Championship at the end of 2023, but he has yet to secure a win on the PGA Tour.
“You know it’s going to be a grind, and it will likely come down to the last few holes,” he remarked. “So you just have to stay in the fight, play your best, and see where we end up.”
