Gary Woodland Shoots 64 at Houston Open After PTSD Battle

Gary Woodland is back in the spotlight — and not just for his golf. The 2019 U.S. Open champion opened the 2026 Texas Children's Houston Open with a blistering 6-under 64 on March 26, placing himself just one shot off the lead. But what makes this performance truly remarkable is the backdrop: just two weeks prior, Woodland publicly revealed for the first time that he has been battling PTSD, anxiety, and fear following brain surgery in September 2023. His return to form is being celebrated across the golf world as one of the most emotionally resonant stories of the 2026 PGA Tour season.

Gary Woodland's Brain Surgery and PTSD Battle

In September 2023, Gary Woodland underwent successful brain surgery to remove a tumor. While the procedure was medically successful, the aftermath proved far more challenging than anyone publicly knew — until now.

In an emotional interview with Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard around March 10, 2026, Woodland opened up about the psychological toll the surgery had taken on him. He described dealing with PTSD, persistent anxiety, and deep-seated fear — demons that followed him onto the golf course and made it difficult to compete at the level he once had.

The response from the golf community was immediate and overwhelming. Players, fans, and media figures rallied behind the 41-year-old, praising his courage in speaking openly about mental health struggles — a topic that remains underrepresented in professional sports. According to the PGA Tour, Woodland himself described the relief of finally going public, saying he felt like he had "a thousand pounds off my back."

"I got a thousand pounds off my back." — Gary Woodland, after his opening-round 64 at the 2026 Texas Children's Houston Open

Opening Round 64: What Happened at Memorial Park

Woodland's first round at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston was the kind of performance that turns heads on a leaderboard. He carded seven birdies and one bogey for a 6-under 64, leaving him just one shot behind leader Paul Waring heading into the second round.

It was not a round built on luck. Woodland was sharp off the tee and dialed in with his irons — a combination that had eluded him for much of the past several years. CBS Sports reported that Woodland's strong start came amid a wider competitive round that also saw Rickie Fowler make a push toward a Masters invite, adding further intrigue to the Houston leaderboard.

For Woodland, the venue itself carries recent history. A year prior at the 2025 Houston Open, he closed with a remarkable 62 to finish tied for second at Memorial Park. That performance demonstrated he still had elite-level golf inside him — and his 2026 opening round suggests the best may still be ahead.

The Equipment Change That Made a Difference

Woodland's resurgence isn't just mental — it's also mechanical, and a specific equipment adjustment played a key role in his strong opening round. Yahoo Sports detailed how Woodland switched back to the iron shafts he used when he won the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. The change immediately tightened up his ball-striking, giving him the consistency and control he needed to fire a low round.

It's a reminder that in professional golf, equipment isn't just about technology — it's about feel, confidence, and the psychological connection a player has with their gear. For Woodland, returning to the shafts associated with his greatest career triumph carried symbolic weight as much as technical benefit.

Despite being 41 years old, Woodland is currently leading the PGA Tour in both driving distance and ball speed — a staggering stat that underscores just how physically imposing he remains as a player. When his game is firing on all cylinders, he is still one of the longest and most explosive drivers in professional golf.

Randy Smith's Role: Getting 'Soft' Out of His Game

The human element behind Woodland's swing revival is his coach, Randy Smith — the same man who works with world number one Scottie Scheffler. Woodland returned to working with Smith roughly 18 months ago, after a three-to-four-year stretch during which his ball-striking had deteriorated.

Yahoo Sports reported that Smith did not mince words when Woodland came back to him. The coach told Woodland bluntly that he was being 'soft' and that he was 'guiding it' rather than swinging with aggression and conviction. Smith pushed him to swing hard again — to stop protecting, stop steering, and start trusting his natural power.

That directive, combined with the equipment switch and his recent public unburdening about PTSD, appears to have unlocked a version of Woodland that the golf world had been waiting to see again. Sharing a coach with Scheffler — currently the best player in the world — also keeps Woodland in an elite training environment where expectations are high and standards are uncompromising.

2026 Season Context: A Difficult Start Turning Around

Woodland's 64 in Houston didn't come out of nowhere, but it did come after a rocky start to his 2026 campaign. He missed four of his first six cuts on Tour, including a missed cut at the prestigious Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Those results, viewed through the lens of his PTSD struggles, paint a picture of a player working hard just to get back to baseline.

The turnaround began showing signs at the Valspar Championship the week before Houston, where Woodland finished tied for 14th. That result restored some momentum and confidence heading into Memorial Park. MSN Sports noted that Woodland entered Houston riding that positive energy, just one shot behind leader Paul Waring after round one.

The progression — from missed cuts, to a T14, to a 64 — reflects the kind of gradual rebuild that sports psychologists and coaches often describe when athletes work through trauma. Woodland is not just recovering his golf game. He is recovering himself.

Why Gary Woodland's Story Resonates Beyond Golf

Gary Woodland is a four-time PGA Tour winner and a U.S. Open champion. He has always been known for his power and his likable personality. But the story he is telling in 2026 is bigger than any title.

Mental health awareness in professional sports has grown significantly in recent years, but there remains a stigma — particularly for male athletes — around admitting vulnerability. When a player of Woodland's stature stands up and says he has been battling PTSD and fear, it sends a message to millions of people watching that these struggles are real, they are valid, and they can be worked through.

His openness has drawn widespread admiration, and his 64 at Houston gave fans the most satisfying possible punctuation mark on his revelations: a champion, freed from secrecy, playing like himself again.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gary Woodland

What surgery did Gary Woodland have?

Gary Woodland underwent brain surgery in September 2023 to remove a tumor. The surgery was medically successful, but Woodland subsequently dealt with PTSD, anxiety, and fear in the months and years that followed.

What did Gary Woodland score in round one of the 2026 Houston Open?

Woodland shot a 6-under 64 in the first round of the 2026 Texas Children's Houston Open on March 26, 2026. He recorded seven birdies and one bogey, placing him one shot behind leader Paul Waring.

Who is Gary Woodland's swing coach?

Gary Woodland works with swing coach Randy Smith, who is also the coach of world number one Scottie Scheffler. Woodland returned to working with Smith approximately 18 months before the 2026 Houston Open after a period of struggling with his ball-striking.

Has Gary Woodland won a major championship?

Yes. Gary Woodland won the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. He is a four-time PGA Tour winner in total.

Why is Gary Woodland trending in 2026?

Woodland is trending because he shot an impressive opening-round 64 at the 2026 Texas Children's Houston Open, just two weeks after giving an emotional public interview revealing his ongoing PTSD battle following his 2023 brain surgery. The combination of his personal courage and his return to competitive form has generated significant attention across the golf world.

Conclusion

Gary Woodland's story in 2026 is one of the most compelling narratives in professional golf. From the operating room in September 2023, through years of quiet struggle with PTSD and anxiety, to a 6-under 64 at Memorial Park that announced his return to the game's elite — Woodland has traveled a road that few athletes have had to walk, and fewer still have chosen to discuss publicly.

His willingness to speak openly about his mental health, combined with his renewed focus on swinging aggressively with coach Randy Smith and the equipment changes that tightened his ball-striking, points to a player who has done the hard work on multiple fronts. At 41, leading the Tour in driving distance and ball speed, one shot off the lead in Houston, Gary Woodland is not just surviving. He is competing — and winning the respect of everyone watching.