Gary Woodland’s Equipment Adjustment and Titleist GTS Driver Launch at Houston Open Gary Woodland, the 41-year-old PGA Tour player, made a notable equipment change during the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open. After struggling with his iron play earlier in the season, Woodland decided to switch back to KBS C-Taper 130 X iron shafts, abandoning the True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100s he had used previously. The decision came after a conversation with Cobra Director of Tour Operations Ben Schomin, who noted that Woodland’s increased club head speed—currently the highest on the tour at 127.68 mph—was causing issues with the X100s. The stiffer shafts were leading to a lag in clubhead speed at impact, resulting in deeper divots and less optimal turf interaction. Woodland explained that the switch to the older C-Taper shafts helped “tighten everything up” and improved his shot consistency. “My misses were better today,” he said after his second round, adding that the shafts felt “comfortable” and allowed him to regain control over his game. The change also addressed a drop in his speed, which had been a concern in recent years. By returning to a shaft he had used since 2015, Woodland was able to restore his rhythm and confidence, finishing the first round one stroke behind the leader at Memorial Park. Meanwhile, the Houston Open also served as a testing ground for Titleist’s new GTS driver lineup. The brand unveiled three drivers—GTS 2, 3, and 4—as well as fairway woods, offering players pre-built setups and customization options. The GTS series features updated weight distributions, with the GTS 2 adding front weight, the GTS 3 introducing rear weight, and the GTS 4 allowing heel-toe adjustable front weight.#gary_woodland #houston_open #cobra #ben_schomin #titleist
Gary Woodland Builds 3-Shot Lead at Houston Open HOUSTON — Gary Woodland expressed relief after openly discussing his mental health struggles, and the confidence showed in his performance Friday at the Houston Open helped him build a three-shot lead heading into the weekend at Memorial Park. The 2019 U.S. Open champion carded a 7-under 63, finishing at 13-under 127, three strokes ahead of Nicolai Hojgaard and Jackson Suber. Woodland’s strong round included three consecutive birdies toward the end of the day, allowing him to create distance from the field. Woodland acknowledged his resilience after a challenging moment on the 13th hole, where a wayward tee shot landed in the water left of the fairway. The error led to a penalty drop and a 4-foot putt to save bogey. Despite the setback, he credited his mental focus for moving past the mistake. “I was proud of myself because what my coach calls an ‘oops,’ I had a bad swing there on 13, and I’ve hit it so well the last couple days, I didn’t let that bother me,” he said. “I told myself to forget about it and move on, and I was able to do that. That was a big change for me to let that go and keep doing what I’ve been doing the last couple days.” The 38-year-old’s performance reflected a well-rounded game, with control over his swing and confidence on the greens. He attributed his improved play to adjustments made after realizing his alignment was off, which led him to switch putters. Woodland also highlighted the support he’s received since publicly discussing his post-traumatic stress disorder, a decision made after undergoing brain surgery in September 2023 to remove a lesion linked to moments of unfounded fear. “I felt ‘1,000 pounds lighter’ after that Golf Channel interview,” he said.#nicolai_hojgaard #memorial_park #gary_woodland #houston_open #jackson_suber
