Gary Woodland built a one-shot lead at the Houston Open Saturday, firing a 5-under 65 to reach 18-under 192 and position himself for his first win since the 2019 U.S. Open.
Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard sits one back after posting a sizzling 63, his second straight day of exceptional scoring after Friday’s 62. No other player is closer than five shots heading into Sunday’s final round at Memorial Park.
Woodland showed tremendous control down the stretch when he needed it most. He hammered a 2-iron over water to reach the par-5 16th in two shots—one of only five players to accomplish that feat—setting up a two-putt birdie. At the drivable par-4 17th, his tee shot hit a bunker with enough force to bounce onto the collar, allowing him to pitch to 5 feet for another birdie.
This marks the first time Woodland has held a 54-hole lead since his major breakthrough at Pebble Beach nearly five years ago.
“I’ve just got to take a deep breath,” Woodland said. “I’ll have a good night ahead of me tonight to recover and rest, and tomorrow just don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m here, I put myself in this position for a reason, so take a deep breath and maintain what I’m doing.”
Woodland has become one of golf’s most compelling figures after undergoing brain surgery in September 2023. He recently opened up about his struggles with PTSD during an emotional interview at The Players Championship, revealing how he would sometimes cry mid-round and hide in bathroom stalls.
Sharing those struggles publicly has been liberating. Earlier this week, Woodland said he felt “1,000 pounds lighter” after speaking out.
His game has responded. A shaft change in his irons has helped him regain control as his swing speed returned, and he’s currently leading the field in approach shots while ranking second in putting—aided by a slightly new putter that’s improved his alignment.
Højgaard matched Woodland’s late-round brilliance with his own birdie at 16 and an impressive up-and-down from a bunker for birdie at 17. The 23-year-old Dane has collected an astounding 15 birdies and an eagle over the past two rounds.
“You know it’s going to be a grind, you know it’s going to come down to potentially the last few holes anyway,” Højgaard said. “So you’ve just got to stay in the fight and play your best and do your best and then let’s see where we end up.”
While Højgaard is virtually assured a Masters invitation at No. 47 in the world rankings, Woodland needs nothing short of victory to earn his way to Augusta National.
Defending champion Min Woo Lee (67) and Michael Thorbjornsen (66) share third place at 13-under, five shots off the lead. Sunday carries significant implications for Thorbjornsen, currently ranked 56th globally. The Massachusetts native likely needs at least an eighth-place finish to crack the world’s top 50 and secure a Masters berth.
Højgaard, who made his Ryder Cup debut for Europe in 2023, has three European tour victories, including last year’s DP World Tour Championship. His identical twin brother, Rasmus, has already qualified for the Masters, but Nicolai is still seeking his first PGA Tour win.
