Gary Woodland claims emotional PGA Tour victory after seven-year wait

American golfer Gary Woodland has ended a seven-year drought with a triumphant win at the Texas Children's Houston Open, marking his first victory since undergoing brain surgery. Woodland carded a three-under 67 at the Memorial Park Golf Course to finish 21 under, five strokes ahead of Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard, and secure his first worldwide win since the 2019 US Open. This victory not only earns Woodland a spot at The Masters next month but also caps an incredible comeback for the 41-year-old, who took a competitive leave from golf in 2023 and has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Woodland's journey back to the top has been marked by struggles, but he has found solace in making his diagnosis public, stating it has left him feeling 'a thousand pounds lighter'. With this win, Woodland moves into the top 25 in the FedExCup standings and celebrates his fifth PGA Tour title. The tournament saw Woodland take a one-shot lead into the final day, which he extended after Hojgaard bogeyed the first hole. Woodland then took control of the game, converting from 10 feet at the fifth to spark a birdie burst. Despite Hojgaard's efforts, including a birdie at the par-four sixth, Woodland maintained his lead, rolling in from 25 feet and taking advantage of the par-five eighth. Woodland's lead briefly increased to seven strokes when Hojgaard started his back nine with a bogey, but Hojgaard managed to cut the gap to four shots with a two-putt birdie at the par-five 16th. Woodland ultimately secured his win with a par at the 17th and got up and down from the back of the green for a par at the final hole, completing his first win in 2,473 days. In a heartfelt statement after his victory, Woodland acknowledged the support of his team, family, and the golf community, encouraging those struggling to 'keep fighting'. The PGA Tour will head to Texas for the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio, the final tournament for players to secure a last-minute invite to The Masters with a victory.