Gary Woodland surged into the spotlight at the Texas Children’s Houston Open with a brilliant second round of 63 (-7), moving to 13 under par overall and taking the solo lead before the afternoon wave had even teed off. The American is not only playing some of his best golf in years, but doing so with a composure and confidence that reflects both technical adjustments and a renewed mental edge.
Woodland’s performance on Friday was a continuation of the momentum he built in the opening round, but with an added layer of maturity. A key moment came on the 13th hole, where a rare mistake could have derailed his round. Instead, it became a turning point.
“I was obviously in control very well today,” Woodland explained. “But I was proud of myself because what my coach Randy Smith calls an ‘oops,’ I had a bad swing there on 13. I didn’t let that bother me. I told myself to forget about it and move on, and I was able to do that. That was a big change for me.”
That mental resilience paid off immediately, as Woodland closed his round with three consecutive birdies, reinforcing his grip on the top of the leaderboard.
A putting tweak that’s paying off
A significant part of Woodland’s success this week has come on the greens. After struggling earlier in the season with missed putts to the right, a subtle adjustment with his putting coach Phil Kenyon has made a noticeable difference.
“I’ve putted it well all year, but I missed a lot of putts right earlier,” he said. “We found out I was aimed a little left and probably shoving my putts. So we switched to a different Scotty Cameron that allows me to line it up. It helps when you line it up right — the ball’s rolling in now.”
The improvement has been immediate and decisive, turning opportunities into birdies and keeping momentum firmly on his side.
Equipment changes boosting confidence
Woodland has also made a recent switch in his iron shafts, opting for a stiffer setup better suited to his current swing speed. The change has given him greater control over ball flight and spin, key factors at Memorial Park.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in those shafts,” he said. “With my speed the way it is right now, I need that extra stiff feel. It’s allowing me to work the golf ball again and control it, especially the spin.”
Memorial Park suits his strengths
The layout at Memorial Park Golf Course has proven to be an ideal fit for Woodland’s aggressive style. With room off the tee and firm conditions, he’s been able to lean into his power game.
“It allows me to be aggressive — there’s a little room out there,” he noted. “I’m hitting a lot of drivers, able to swing hard and play to my strengths. That gives me confidence.”
Staying grounded despite the lead
Despite holding the clubhouse lead at 13 under, Woodland remains cautious about looking too far ahead, with 36 holes still to play.
“We’re a long way from that — 36 holes left,” he said when asked about a potential victory. “I’m proud of how I’ve played, but I just need to keep doing what I’ve been doing and see where we are at the end.”
Feeding off the crowd
Perhaps most notably, Woodland is drawing energy from the galleries, who have rallied behind him throughout the week.
“There’s no doubt I feel the fans rooting for me,” he admitted. “As much as any week, I feel like I’ve had a lot of support. It kind of feels like I’m playing at home. I feed off that energy, and hopefully I can ride that this weekend.”
With two rounds to go and a packed leaderboard still forming, Woodland has laid down a formidable marker. If he maintains this level of control — both mentally and technically — he will be the man to catch heading into the weekend in Houston.
