Gary Woodland captures 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open, completing comeback 2.5 years after brain surgery
A return to the winner’s circle at Memorial Park
Gary Woodland won the Texas Children’s Houston Open on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, securing his first PGA Tour title since his 2019 U.S. Open victory. Woodland finished at 21-under-par 259, a tournament scoring record, and won by five strokes over Nicolai Højgaard.
The victory marked Woodland’s fifth PGA Tour win and came roughly two and a half years after he underwent brain surgery in September 2023 to remove a lesion. Woodland returned to PGA Tour competition in January 2024 and continued to manage the aftereffects of the medical episode as he rebuilt form and confidence on the course.
How the tournament turned in Woodland’s favor
Woodland entered the final round with a one-shot lead after a third-round 65. He closed with a 67, capping a four-round card of 64-63-65-67. The final margin reflected steady play across the week rather than a single decisive stretch, with Højgaard remaining in contention into the closing holes before Woodland separated late.
Woodland’s 259 total set the event’s lowest 72-hole score on record, establishing a new scoring benchmark at the Houston Open.
Medical timeline and road back
In late August 2023, Woodland announced he would have surgery to address a brain lesion. The procedure took place on September 18, 2023, with medical updates at the time indicating that a significant portion of the lesion was removed. In the years that followed, Woodland described ongoing recovery challenges, including mental and emotional strain. In March 2026, he also publicly discussed a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder connected to the post-surgery period.
On the course, signs of a resurgence had appeared earlier. At the 2025 Houston Open, Woodland finished tied for second, posting the best PGA Tour result of his comeback phase. That performance provided a clear competitive baseline one year before he returned to Memorial Park and converted a lead into a title.
Context: a Houston Open played on a demanding municipal venue
The tournament was contested at Memorial Park, a par-70 layout that has hosted the Houston Open in its modern rotation and has become known for requiring precise approach play and controlled misses around the greens. The event is staged in late March, serving as part of the PGA Tour’s Texas swing and drawing a field that often includes players sharpening form ahead of the Masters.
Key facts at a glance
- Event: Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Date: March 26–29, 2026
- Champion: Gary Woodland
- Winning score: 21-under-par 259 (64-63-65-67)
- Runner-up: Nicolai Højgaard, five strokes back
- Medical milestone: brain surgery in September 2023
For Woodland, the Houston result stands as a measurable competitive milestone: a tournament-record performance, a decisive margin, and a return to winning form after a multi-year medical and professional recovery.