Gary Woodland's powerful return to form at Memorial Park Golf Course sent a clear message to the PGA Tour - the 2019 U.S. Open champion has rediscovered the game that made him one of golf's most feared competitors. The 41-year-old's flawless 7-under 64 in Thursday's opening round of the Texas Children's Houston Open placed him just one stroke behind England's Paul Waring, marking Woodland's lowest opening round since his victory at Pebble Beach five years ago.
"I literally feel like I got a thousand pounds off my back that day," Woodland said, referencing his recent emotional interview where he opened up about battling PTSD symptoms following September 2023 brain surgery to remove a lesion. 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 designed by Tom Doak with input from Brooks Koepka.
Woodland's all-around performance was a masterclass in precision and power, ranking top-10 in driving (4th, averaging 317 yards), approach shots (7th) and putting (9th). His 64 matched his lowest score since the 2022 Sony Open, showcasing the complete game that once made him a perennial contender. "I did it all pretty good today," Woodland admitted with characteristic understatement. "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 featuring just one made cut in his previous five starts.
The Kansas native and former college basketball player credits his resurgence to both mental clarity and technical adjustments with longtime coach Randy Smith, who has worked with Woodland since his early days on Tour. Their partnership has weathered multiple swing changes and now appears to be paying dividends again. "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 at 318.7 yards - a remarkable feat considering his health challenges over the past year.
Woodland's emotional honesty about his struggles with anxiety and depression following brain surgery has drawn overwhelming support from across 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 that career-defining U.S. Open triumph, where he held off Brooks Koepka at Pebble Beach.
Leader Paul Waring set the pace with an opening 63 that included a back-nine 30, 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. The Englishman Waring, a former European Tour winner seeking his first PGA Tour victory, will face stiff competition from Woodland's resurgent ball-striking.
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 behind Tony Finau. A victory would complete one of the more remarkable comebacks in recent PGA Tour history, coming just seven months after brain surgery and capping a journey that's seen Woodland battle through physical rehabilitation and mental health challenges. As the Houston Open continues, all eyes will be on whether Woodland can sustain this form and potentially add another chapter in his inspiring career resurgence.
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*Originally published on [golfnews.global](https://golfnews.global/article/gary-woodland-shines-with-64-in-houston-open-first-round).*
