Woodland claims emotional win

Gary Woodland claimed an astounding five-shot victory over Nicolai Højgaard to win the Houston Open golf championships to claim a first PGA Tour title since the 2019 US Open. His win also ensured him an invite to The Masters and is his first since his PTSD diagnosis, following a brain surgery.

Woodland had underwent a brian surgery in 2023 to remove a benign brain tumour and made a startling revelation a little over two weeks ago of a PTSD diagnosis.

The 41-year-old was leading Højgaard by a mere one stroke, heading into the final round but carded a three-under 67 at the Memorial Park Golf Course to finish on 21 under.

Højgaard had managed only a 71 round to finish at 16 under,

Apart from the US Open almost seven years ago, Woodland has the 2011 Valspar Championship, 2013 Reno-Tahoe Open, 2018 WM Phoenix Open and now the Houston Open.

The 259 total marks the lowest 72-hole score in tournament history, eclipsing the 260 set by Lee Min-woo, the defending champion last year.

Woodland is also the first player to finish runner-up and then win the same tournament the next season since Robert MacIntyre (2023, 2024 Genesis Scottish Open).

Woodland saw his lead extended when Højgaard bogeyed the par-four first, then took control of the tournament after a streak of birdies.

Højgaard fell further back after the seventh hole which he double-bogeyed the hole.

Woodland holed another long-range birdie – his fourth in five holes – at the ninth to race to the turn in 31, with his lead briefly increasing to seven strokes when Højgaard started his back nine with a bogey.

A two-shot swing at the 14th saw Woodland miss from six feet to save par, as Højgaard holed from a similar distance for birdie, with Højgaard then making a two-putt birdie at the par-five 16th to cut the gap to four shots.

Both players made par at the 17th to keep Woodland’s commanding advantage to the par-four last, where he got up and down from the back of the green for a par to complete his win.

Højgaard, who has yet to exempt qualify for the Masters Tournament has to wait longer as he earned his fourth runner-up on the Tour.

PGA Tour rookie and 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year, Johnny Keefer finished tied third with Min-woo at 15-under.

Meanwhile, Jake Knapp who was tied sixth, carded a final-round 8-under 62, tying the tournament scoring record as 14-time PGA Tour winner Adam Scott (T21/-8) aced the par-3 11th hole. Shane Lowry (T28/-7) also recorded a hole-in-one on the par-3 No. 2.

Cink on a roll

Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink, who held the 36-hole lead, closed with 66 to win the Hoag Classic for his third victory in his last five starts on PGA Tour Champions.

The 52-year-old finished the tournament 66-62-66 for a 19-under 194 for his sixth win on the Tour Champions by four strokes. It matched the largest margin of victory of the season with Zach Johnson and Ernie Els finishing tied second.

Els, the two-time Hoag Classic champion (2020, 2023) , led the field in birdies with 19 for his 18th top-2 finish on the Tour.

Making his third start on the Tour, Johnson matched the low round of the day with a 65. Since his debut on the Tour he won the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational before finishing T3 at the Cologuard Classic.

The winner of last week’s Cologuard Classic, Steven Alker finished T7 along with 2022 Hoag Classic champion Retief Goosen, who matched the low round of the day.

Lamb drives away with the title

Davis Lamb captured his first Korn Ferry Tour victory with a final-round bogey-free 4-under 68 at the Club Car Championships.

The 19-under finish sees him rise to No. 3 on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour Points List off the strength of his victory and three additional top-25 finishes.

He becomes the fifth first-time winner on Tour this season, joining Ian Holt (The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club), James Nicholas (Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard), Alistair Docherty (119th Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro) and Doc Redman (Astara Chile Classic.

Overnight co-leaders John Pak finished second on 18-under while teenager Blades Brown a further stroke behind.

Final Leaderboard (Houston Open)

Final Leaderboard (Hoag Classic)

Leaderboard (Club Car Championships)