Emotional Woodland seals first win since brain surgery

Texas Children's Houston Open, final round leaderboard

-21 G Woodland (US); -16 N Hojgaard (Den); -15 J Keefer (US), M W Lee (Aus); -14 S Stevens (US); -13 S Yellamaraju (Can), J Day (Aus), J Knapp (US), C Gotterup (US)

Selected others:-7 S Lowry (Ire), H Hall (Eng); -6 P Waring (Eng); -5 J Smith (Eng); -4 J Parry (Eng); -3 M Wallace (Eng); -2 D Willett (Eng)

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Gary Woodland broke down in tears after sealing his first victory in seven years by winning the Houston Open.

Woodland had an operation to remove a brain tumour in September 2023 and revealed earlier this month he has been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), having been diagnosed about a year ago.

The American, who had not won a tournament since the 2019 US Open, beat Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard by five shots to clinch the PGA Tour event in Texas.

On holing his final putt, Woodland, 41, spread his arms wide and looked to the skies, before tears flowed as he embraced his wife Gabby.

"We play an individual sport but I wasn't alone today," said Woodland.

"I've got a lot of people behind me - my team, my family. Anybody that's struggling with something, I hope they see me and don't give up - just keep fighting."

Woodland ended on 21 under after an impressive final round of 67 on the par 70 Memorial Park Golf Course.

"It's just another day, I've got to keep healing, I'm going to keep fighting, but I'm proud of myself right now," he added.

"Thank you to my family. I wouldn't be anywhere before this without them but there's no chance I could do this without Gabby.

"It's been hard on me, it's been harder for her. I love her to death."

Woodland led by one shot overnight after Hojgaard, chasing his first PGA Tour win, backed up a sublime eight-under-par 62 on Friday with a seven-under-par 63 on Saturday.

But the American showed remarkable calm and control on a masterful front nine, featuring four birdies, to move into a lead he never looked like relinquishing.

Hojgaard also had two bogeys and one double bogey, despite two birdies, in his first 10 holes to boost Woodland's chances.

The Dane closed the gap to five shots on the 14th hole - finding a birdie while Woodland carded a bogey - then four shots with another birdie on the 16th.

But Woodland matched him with a par on 17 and made par at the last, while Hojgaard dropped another shot.

Woodland received a warm reception from the crowd down the stretch, which turned to rapturous applause and chants of "Gary, Gary" as he sank his putt for victory.

It is Woodland's fifth PGA Tour triumph and perhaps sets him up to challenge for the first major of the season at next month's Masters.

When asked about his chances at Augusta, he emphasised he still had personal and mental issues to work on, but added: "My game is better than it's ever been."

American Johnny Keefer and Australia's Min Woo Lee tied for third, one stroke behind Hojgaard, on 15 under.

Reflecting on his achievement, Woodland said he was "most proud" that he "didn't give up" on his career over a difficult past few years.

He added: "I tried to slow down and take things in because it didn't feel like this was possible a couple of years ago."