Gary Woodland will take a one‑shot lead over Nicolai Hojgaard into the ultimate spherical of the Texas Kids’s Houston Open after a composed 5‑beneath 65 moved him to 18 beneath.
The American is chasing his first victory for the reason that 2019 US Open and has change into probably the most admired figures in golf as he continues his restoration from mind surgical procedure in September 2023.
Earlier this month, he spoke overtly about battling submit‑traumatic stress dysfunction, describing the emotional toll and the aid of lastly sharing his struggles.
On the course, Woodland’s sport appears to be like revitalised. A change in iron shafts has helped him regain management as his pace returns, and he has proven full command of his swing all through the week.
He was significantly sharp down the stretch on Saturday, drilling a two‑iron over water to achieve the par‑5 sixteenth in two for a birdie, then almost driving the inexperienced on the quick par‑4 seventeenth to arrange one other.
Gary Woodland leads the Texas Kids’s Houston Open by one stroke heading into Sunday’s ultimate spherical
Hojgaard matched him shot for shot, posting a 63 after a 62 on Friday.
The 25‑yr‑outdated Dane has piled up 15 birdies and an eagle over the past two rounds and stays firmly in competition as he seeks his first PGA Tour win. Already No 47 on the earth, he’s just about assured of a Masters berth until an unlikely state of affairs unfolds.
Defending champion Min Woo Lee (67) and Michael Thorbjornsen (66) sit 5 pictures again. For Thorbjornsen, at the moment No 56, Sunday carries huge stakes: a high‑eight end might safe his first Masters invitation.
Woodland, in the meantime, would wish a victory to return to Augusta, although that purpose stays secondary to the non-public journey he has endured.
Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard sits one shot off the lead
His surgical procedure eliminated a part of a lesion that had triggered overwhelming worry and anxiousness, and he has described moments of breaking down mid‑spherical or hiding in bogs. Sharing his story, he stated, made him really feel “1,000 pounds lighter”.
Now his focus is on closing out a win at Memorial Park, the place he completed runner‑up final yr. He leads the sector in method play and ranks second in placing with the assistance of a barely adjusted putter.
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Hojgaard, a 2023 Ryder Cup rookie with three DP World Tour titles, expects a battle to the top, saying he plans to “stay in the fight” as the ultimate spherical unfolds.
Watch the ultimate spherical of the Texas Kids’s Houston Open dwell on Sky Sports activities Golf from 1.15pm on Sunday. There may be additionally protection on Sky Sports activities Most important Occasion from 8.15pm.
