Gary Woodland fired four birdies on the front nine and one bogey on the back nine to close with a 3-under 67 and win the Texas Children’s Houston Open by five strokes.

He led the field for the week in Birdies (26), Strokes Gained: Putting (8.325).

“It felt a lot closer than five in my head, I can tell you that,” said Woodland. “This is probably top to bottom as good as I’ve played maybe on Tour. Obviously I had a great week there at Pebble, but I was just in complete control this week. I’m proud of that.

259 (-21) marks the lowest 72-hole score in tournament history (previous: 260/Min Woo Lee/2025) and Woodland’s career-low 72-hole score (259) following a new low 54-hole score (192) on Saturday. He improves to 3-for-10 converting the 54-hole lead/co-lead to victory on the PGA Tour (2013 Reno-Tahoe Open, 2019 US Open.

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

This was the American’s fifth PGA Tour victory in his 396th start at the age of 41 and his first in his 151st start since his last victory at the 2019 US Open (a span of 6 years, 9 months, 13 days).

He was the recipient of the 2025 PGA Tour Courage Award having undergone surgery to remove a brain lesion in September 2023 and returned to competition at the 2024 Sony Open in Hawaii. This win marks his third top-10 in 56 starts since surgery (T9/2024 Shriners Children’s Open, T2/2025 Texas Children’s Houston Open, 1st/2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open). In early March 2026 (two starts prior), he went public with a PTSD diagnosis in the wake of brain surgery.

“I put a lot of work in,” said Woodland. “It’s obviously been a struggle for me the last couple years, but I knew physically the game was as good as it’s ever been. I just had to fight through some other battles that I’m battling and I was able do that this week.

“Obviously coming out with what I’m battling a couple weeks ago definitely freed me up a little bit. It took a lot off my plate. It allowed me to focus my energy where I need to and that’s on me and taking care of myself so I can chase my dreams and I can — like I said, when I said what I said and came out with it, it was like if it gives me enough energy for one better shot a round or if it gives me five more minutes that I can spend with my kids when I’m home, then it’s doing that. It’s helped me. I wasn’t in a place to do it a long time ago, a year ago, I can tell you, but we’re getting better.”

With this win, Woodland earns exemptions into this year’s Masters Tournament, PGA Championship and US Open, as well as the 2027 Players Championship.

Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard fired four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey at the par-3 7th for a final-round 71 and finished runner-up at 16-under. He is one of two players in the field who were not yet exempt qualified for the Masters Tournament via the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (Jake Knapp/T6).

PGA Tour rookie and 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year, Johnny Keefer of the USA made a single bogey in his 6-under 64 for a share of third place at 15-under, and recorded a career-best finish in his 14th start on Tour (previous: T7/2023 RSM Classic).

Defending champion Min Woo Lee of Australia made five birdies and two bogeys for a 67 and finished T3 in his first title defense.

Three aces were made at the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open, Adam Scott (T21/-8) aced the par-3 11th hole, Shane Lowry (T28/-7) the par-3 2nd and Cole Hammer (T51/-3) the par-4 1st. The last time three aces were recorded at the same event was at the 2023 US Open (Matt Fitzpatrick, Matthieu Pavon, Sam Burns).

Aon Swing 5 and Aon Next 10

The Texas Children’s Houston Open is the third of a four-tournament stretch for players to earn FedExCup points towards the Aon Swing 5 with entry into the next Signature Event at the RBC Heritage.

The top five players, not otherwise exempt, who earn the most FedExCup points during the Puerto Rico Open, Valspar Championship, Texas Children’s Houston Open and Valero Texas Open will qualify for the RBC Heritage.

Aon Next 10: The Aon Next 10 for the RBC Heritage will be determined by top 10 FedExCup points earners, not already exempt, through the Masters Tournament: