Gary Woodland didn’t find yourself profitable on the Texas Kids’s Houston Open on Sunday afternoon.
Whereas that trophy went to Min Woo Lee, Woodland is leaving along with his head held excessive. It wasn’t simply his finest outing on the PGA Tour in years, however his end was by far his finest since he underwent mind surgical procedure lower than two years in the past.
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Woodland matched the course file on Sunday and climbed up 4 spots to tie with Scottie Scheffler in second at Memorial Park Golf Course. It was his finest end anyplace on Tour since his win on the U.S. Open in 2019.
“It was nice simply to get these juices flowing once more, simply to see some outcomes for that matter,” Woodland stated. “I’ve labored my tail off once I’ve been capable of … It was good to lastly see it. It’s one factor to inform your self and to consider it, nevertheless it’s one other factor to see it in particular person.
“I noticed it and felt all the pieces that I needed to really feel immediately.”
from his mind in 2023, which got here after months of terrifying signs that he was struggling to grasp.
Exterior of dropping his urge for food, shaky fingers and the chills, the most important concern was the worry and nervousness that Woodland couldn’t escape. He was continuously jolted awake at evening after having nightmares that he was dying. He was having little seizures throughout his sleep, too, which made relaxation laborious to come back by.
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That, although, was about 18 months in the past. He returned to start out the PGA Tour season final 12 months which, despite the fact that it didn’t go that properly, was a outstanding comeback only a few months after mind surgical procedure. Woodland had one top-10 end and missed 11 cuts on the season.
This 12 months hasn’t been significantly better. He entered this week in Houston having missed the lower in three of his final 4 begins. However for no matter motive, Woodland’s sport lastly clicked.
Woodland matched the course file with an 8-under 62 on Sunday, which was his finest spherical on Tour since 2018. He carded six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 sixteenth. He landed his strategy on the final inside simply two ft for a tap-in birdie putt to complete the day, too, which truly introduced him only a single stroke off the lead.
Lee ended up grabbing the win at 20-under. It was his first ever win on Tour. Woodland and Scheffler had been only one again.
“It was nearly as good as I’ve felt on a golf course in a very long time,” he stated. “The sport was nice, however I used to be capable of decelerate. I used to be capable of sluggish my ideas down and it’s been some time for me for that.”
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Woodland, who received the PGA Tour’s Braveness Award earlier this season, is in his ultimate season of eligibility from his win on the U.S. Open in 2019. He might want to decide up a win this season, or end inside the highest 100 within the final FedExCup Fall standings, to safe full PGA Tour standing for subsequent season. Woodland entered the week at No. 186 within the Official World Golf Rankings.
Whereas his standing is undoubtedly on Woodland’s thoughts, and he missed out on his finest shot in years to seize a win, Woodland is not targeted on that simply but. After his week in Houston, he’s greater than prepared for a break.
“I’m exhausted, I have to relaxation,” he stated. “I’m a little bit overwhelmed proper now, in all probability.
“Like I stated, I haven’t been in competition for a very long time. But it surely takes lots for me to sluggish all the pieces down, and I used to be ready to try this nevertheless it’s numerous work and I’m very drained proper now. So I’m trying ahead to stepping into mattress and getting some relaxation.”