Gary Woodland reminded the golfing world just how good he is at the Houston Open.
The universally popular winner admitted that he was suffering from PTSD after undergoing brain surgery in 2023, and two weeks after this emotional interview, he won in Houston in commanding fashion.
Woodland shot 21-under at Memorial Park, winning by five shots over second-placed Nikolai Hojgaard. The 2019 US Open winner looked unflappable on Sunday, and his lead never really looked to be in doubt.
That led Dan Rapaport to say that Woodland is on the Mount Rushmore for players hitting one particular shot.
Dan Rapaport says Gary Woodland is on the Mount Rushmore of players hitting stingers
The stinger is a shot that has garnered extra attention this year, partly thanks to the new TGL hole, which forces players to hit a penetrating tee shot underneath an outcropping. Tommy Fleetwood hit a particularly impressive shot with a 0-degree launch angle.
Rory McIlroy has added a low drive to his arsenal this year on the PGA Tour, which has allowed him to more consistently find fairways and keep his ball out of the wind. It’s a shot that Tiger Woods was famed for during his career.
Rapaport said that Woods and Woodland are both on the Mount Rushmore of players hitting stingers. Speaking on Dan on Golf, he said, “He hit this nasty, nasty stinger down the stretch.
“He’s in the all-time Mount Rushmore for stingers, by the way. Look at that thing. Little bleeder. That was 46 feet in the air, I think. Tiger’s in the Mount Rushmore of stingers all time. Gary Woodland is up there.
“He also does it with the driver sometimes. He’s got that sick helicopter finish. And then Chris Gotterup, I’m tempted to put him up there. He had a solid finish this week. He only does it with the driver, Gotterup.
“He doesn’t do it with every club, but his is more of a violent stinger. Gary is a smooth stinger with the tempo. Gotterup is leaning on that damn thing. He hits down on everything. And it was just fun to watch Gary at his best.”
Gary Woodland ranks second on the PGA Tour in a surprising category
It’s a massive compliment to Woodland, but he’s not just good at finding fairways with his driver. He’s been smoking it this year.
The 42-year-old ranks second on the PGA Tour in average driving distance. Even at his age, he’s averaging 324.6 yards off the tee, just 0.2 yards behind the long-hitting Aldrich Potgieter.
Woodland was able to take advantage of the short rough in Houston with bombs off the tee, and when his putter caught fire, there was no chance for anyone else in the field.
If he can continue this form with both his driver and his putter, don’t write him off for Augusta National either.
