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From Personal Struggles to Contention, Gary Woodland Edges Closer to Long-Awaited Win

Originally posted on DailyClubGolf | By Abhishek Sharma | Last updated Mar 29, 2026 9:33 AM ET

Gary Woodland is on the verge of a remarkable comeback. The 2019 U.S. Open champion holds a one-shot lead at the Houston Open. His performance is a testament to his resilience after a challenging recovery.

The American golfer shot a 5-under 65 on Saturday to reach 18-under par and has a slim one-shot lead going into Sunday.

“There’s no doubt, and I feed off that,” Woodland said with no hesitation when discussing the positive impact of the supportive fans on his performance. He accepted that the fans’ support was the motivation he needed to remain calm.

Veteran player spoke to the press and thanked the fans and players at Memorial Park for their support as he worked through the psychological challenges of making a high-pressure comeback.

Gary Woodland opens with rounds of 64 and 63 to solo lead the Houston Open by 3 shots after 36 holes. He recently opened up about his mental struggles after recovering from brain surgery and he says the fan support is really helping him:

“There's no doubt, and I feed off that.… pic.twitter.com/tP0DrNlmnc
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) March 28, 2026

“This as much as any week, I feel like I’ve had a lot of support… The fans have been amazing,” said Gary Woodland.

The 41-year-old is chasing his first win in three years, since his brain surgery in 2023. “I kind of need that energy to help me through the day, that definitely helps.” he added.

Gary Woodland on Overcoming the Shadow of the 2019 US Open

Given that he hasn’t enjoyed success in nearly seven years, Woodland’s current lead is a significant achievement. Health issues and career redevelopment have defined the wage gap.

His difficulty in returning to the winner’s circle is an experience many major champions have had. Long absences due to surgery have been common even for legends like Tiger Woods, who himself underwent his seventh back surgery in 2025.

For Woodland, the path to recovery has been marred with PTSD as well. The PGA Tour pro opened up about it in a March 9 interview with Golf Channel.

“Doctors have said in an ideal world, I’m probably not playing,” he said. “My response was, in an ideal world, I don’t have [PTSD]. [Golf] is my dream, this is what I’m going to do,” added Woodland.

With one shot separating him from Nicolai Højgaard, the veteran golfer is close to making that struggle worth it.

This article first appeared on DailyClubGolf and was syndicated with permission.

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