Gary Woodland became the most popular winner on the PGA Tour in recent history after he triumphed at the Houston Open on Sunday.
Woodland’s victory at the Houston Open was one of the most emotional we have seen in a long, long time on the PGA Tour.
The 41-year-old from Topeka, Kansas, has been through so much over the past two-and-a-half years.
Woodland underwent successful brain surgery in 2023, but despite the success of that procedure, he suffered in silence with PTSD right up until he opened up and told his story and The Players Championship a few weeks ago.
As a result of being so open and honest, he gained huge amounts of support from both players and fans in the lead-up to the Houston Open.
There is no doubt that Gary Woodland was the fan favorite at the Houston Open, and rightly so, given everything he’s been through!
In a way, though, that must have increased the pressure on him to win at Memorial Park.
It seems like the pressure was getting to Woodland early in his round on day three of the Houston Open, but he bounced back incredibly well after some really poor swings.
He ended up cruising to a five-shot victory and after his round, he spoke only once again about everyone who has helped him through this challenging time in his career.
Gary Woodland says Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer in the world
Woodland offered huge words of praise for Scottie Scheffler after his win at Memorial Park in Houston on Sunday.
After securing his first win since the 2019 U.S. Open, the 41-year-old was asked how working Randy Smith once again came about.
Randy Smith is obviously Scheffler’s long-term coach as well, but it sounds like he has had just as big of an impact on Woodland’s career as he has on the world number one’s.
Scheffler’s coach has played a huge role in Woodland’s recent turnaround and the Houston Open champion opened up about that on Sunday.
“I talked to him at Colonial a year and a half ago I think it was,“ Woodland said.
“He just asked me how I was doing. I said, Randy, I’m not good. I cry all the time now. I probably started crying.
“We talked. Things didn’t end the way we wanted them to end, both of us, a long time ago. We’re both in a better place now I would say. He’s been through a lot with Scottie. Scottie’s the best player in the world by a long shot and he’s winning, how many majors he’s won and how many times, he wins every week.
“So he has a lot more perspective. And I’ve bounced around a bunch. I’ve been with a lot of great coaches as well, but what Randy does for me off the golf course is second to none.
“From where I’ve been and what I’m battling, I don’t know if I could do it without him.“
Sky’s the limit for Gary Woodland
The next step for Gary Woodland will be to maintain some kind of consistency on the golf course now, while gaining more mental stability away from the PGA Tour.
The 41-year-old has proven to himself this week that he is more than good enough to still compete at the very highest level of the game.
Who knows, Woodland may even fancy his chances of winning another major after his performance at the Houston Open.
He is the longest hitter on the PGA Tour now, after Randy Smith encouraged him to be more aggressive when hitting his driver and his irons.
The Kansas native really is swinging the golf club as good as he ever has.
Maybe Scottie Scheffler will have a surprise challenger this year in the form of Gary Woodland!
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