Texas Children’s Houston Open 2026 Prize Money: Gary Woodland’s $1.8 Million Win Gary Woodland claimed victory at the Texas Children’s Houston Open in 2026, defeating Nicolai Højgaard and Min Woo Lee in the final round. The 41-year-old golfer, who previously won the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, secured his first PGA Tour title since that event. The tournament, held at Memorial Park Golf Course, featured a total prize purse of $9.9 million, with Woodland earning $1,782,000 for his win. Højgaard finished in solo second, earning $1,079,100, while Johnny Keefer and Min Woo Lee, the 2025 Houston Open champion, tied for third place, each receiving $584,100. The prize money distribution for the tournament was structured as follows: Sam Stevens placed fifth with $405,900, while Jake Knapp, Chris Gotterup, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, and Jason Day tied for sixth, earning $322,987 each. Bronson Burgoon and Sahith Theegala shared $259,875 for finishing tied for 10th. Adrien Dumont de Chassart and Denny McCarthy received $220,275 for tying for 12th, while Keith Mitchell, Thorbjorn Olesen, Pontus Nyholm, Jhonattan Vegas, and Michael Thorbjornsen each earned $170,775 for their 14th-place finishes. Players who finished in the 19th position, including Max McGreevy and Karl Vilips, received $136,125. The payouts continued to decrease for lower positions, with Sam Burns, Harris English, Aldrich Potgieter, Alex Smalley, Beau Hossler, Zecheng Dou, and Adam Scott each earning $96,525 for tying for 21st. Mac Meissner, Ben Griffin, Harry Hall, Rasmus Hojgaard, Shane Lowry, Vince Whaley, Michael Brennan, Rico Hoey, Chad Ramey, Stephan Jaeger, and Jackson Suber all received $59,625 for finishing tied for 28th.#nicolai_hojgaard #texas_childrens_houston_open #min_woo_lee #memorial_park_golf_course #gary_woodland
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
How to bet the Arnold Palmer Invitational: Best bets, DFS tips and more Bay Hill is a long, demanding course with thick rough that tests players’ long iron accuracy and control. The par 3s are challenging, often exceeding 200 yards, and birdies are rare. Success hinges on consistent tee shots, strong iron play, and the ability to survive missed greens. The focus is on players who can manage the course’s hazards and maintain composure over four rounds. Key factors for success include balanced tee-to-green performance, reliable long iron numbers, and enough short game stability to avoid costly mistakes. Here’s a breakdown of players who fit that profile for the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational. Nicolai Højgaard is a strong contender. His recent form shows marked improvement, with neutral or positive strokes gained across all areas. Last season, his struggles around the green were a major weakness, but over his last seven rounds, he’s been more consistent. His ball-striking has improved, with gains on approach shots and solid off-the-tee numbers. Højgaard is second in par 3 scoring and fourth on long par 3s, which aligns well with Bay Hill’s setup. Enhanced scrambling ability and a positive Bermuda putting split further solidify his position. If his current form holds, he’s a live contender for a top leaderboard finish. Ryo Hisatsune offers value for a top 30 finish. His all-around ball-striking—gaining strokes off the tee, on approach, and around the green—makes him a strong fit for Bay Hill. His performance on par 3s is particularly relevant, as he’s Top 20 in both overall par 3 scoring and long par 3s. However, his scrambling weakness could be exposed in heavy conditions, though his greens-in-regulation (GIR) rate limits the number of pressure situations.#arnold_palmer_invitational #jordan_spieth #scottie_scheffler #nicolai_hojgaard #ryo_hisatsune
