HOUSTON — Gary Woodland won the Houston Open at Memorial Park in Houston on Sunday, claiming his first PGA Tour victory since the 2019 U.S. Open. The 41-year-old finished with a 3-under-par 67 and won by five shots over Nicolai Hojgaard, earning the fifth PGA Tour title of his career.

Woodland held a one-shot lead going into the final round and extended it to seven shots before closing out the win. The victory came approximately 30 months after he underwent brain surgery in September 2023, during which doctors cut a baseball-sized hole in the side of his head to remove much of a brain lesion.

Earlier in 2023, Woodland learned he had a brain lesion that caused unfounded thoughts that he was dying. He returned to the PGA Tour in January 2024. Two weeks before the 2025 tournament, he disclosed his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder in a Golf Channel interview. He experienced PTSD symptoms that at times caused him to leave the course during a round to break down in tears.

"I appreciate that love and support. But inside, I feel like I'm dying, and I feel like I'm living a lie. I want to live my dreams and be successful out here." He added: "Coming out, talking and asking for help, I didn't do that last year. I didn't do that early this year."

The gallery paused chanting his name so he could make the winning putt. Hojgaard and Min Woo Lee stayed back on their way to the 18th green to allow him to have the stage to himself.

"We thought it was appropriate to let him have his moment. It was a pretty cool moment for Gary and it was cool to see. I'm really happy for him," Hojgaard said.

After the round, Woodland said his wife, Gabby Granado, who was present on the course while their three children stayed at home, played a vital role in his recovery. "We play an individual sport out here, but I wasn't alone today. Anyone struggling with something, I hope they see me and don't give up. Just keep fighting," he said.

"It's just another day. Today was a good day. But I've got a big fight ahead of me, and I'm going to keep going," he said. "I'm in a fight. With the love and support I have around me, I have hope."

The victory moved Woodland to world No. 51, his highest ranking in five years, and made him eligible for all remaining PGA Tour elite events this season, including the Masters Tournament in two weeks.