Gary Woodland's powerful return to form at Memorial Park Golf Course sent a clear message - the former U.S. Open champion is back in contention. The 41-year-old's flawless 7-under 64 in Thursday's opening round placed him just one stroke behind England's Paul Waring at the Texas Children's Houston Open.
"I literally feel like I got a thousand pounds off my back that day," Woodland said, referencing his recent emotional interview about battling PTSD symptoms after brain surgery. The candid revelation about his mental health struggles appears to have unlocked something in the veteran's game, as he carded seven birdies without a single bogey on the challenging Houston layout.
Woodland's all-around performance was textbook excellence, ranking top-10 in driving, approach shots and putting. "I did it all pretty good today," Woodland admitted. "I think the best thing I did was I carried the momentum over from last week. I got a lot of confidence last week." That confidence stems from a T14 finish at the Valspar Championship, his best result in what had been a difficult 2026 season.
The Kansas native credits his resurgence to both mental clarity and technical adjustments with longtime coach Randy Smith. "At the end of the day, it's confidence," Woodland explained. "I'll credit Randy. He pretty much called me soft, told me I was guiding it, and that's not ever how I played in my whole life." Smith's tough love approach has helped Woodland rediscover his aggressive swing, with the 41-year-old currently leading the PGA Tour in driving distance.
Woodland's emotional honesty has drawn overwhelming support from the golf community. "The TOUR out here is a family and they've been amazing," he said. "The golf world's been amazing and I'm very thankful." This support seems to be fueling his competitive fire as he chases his first win since the 2019 U.S. Open.
Leader Paul Waring set the pace with an opening 63, while Sam Burns, Mark Brennan and Tom Hoge sit two shots back at 5-under. Woodland's second-round pairing with Waring promises fireworks as the veteran looks to build on his best round in years. With his mental and physical game aligning, Woodland appears poised to challenge for the title at a course where he finished runner-up last season.