Monday, March 30, 2026 Balls & Bogeys Golf News Edition
Photo: Getty Images
Emotional Woodland seals first win since brain surgery
– by Jack Skelton / BBC Sport
Per Jack: “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…”
B&B POV: Memorial Park in Houston was the perfect course for long-hitting Woodland to prove to himself that he’s a world-class player with the resolve of a champion fighter.
Woodland underwent brain tumor surgery in September 2023 and revealed earlier this month that he’s been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which he was diagnosed with about a year ago. He was brave to share his story and showed us yesterday just how resilient he is. At 41, Woodland has immense power, and he brought it to Memorial Park and beat up the rest of the field this past weekend. What a story.
The Masters field 2026: Who has qualified for Augusta National and how did golfers earn major invite?
– by Sky Sports
Per Sky Sports: “There are 93 players – as of March 30 – scheduled to feature from April 9-12, where Rory McIlroy returns as defending champion after last year’s dramatic play-off victory over Justin Rose to complete the career Grand Slam…”
B&B POV: There is one more automatic qualifier spot for the Masters available this week at the Valero Texas Open, the final PGA TOUR event before next week’s tournament in Augusta, GA. The winner secures a spot, unless they have already qualified. It is also common for the tournament committee to extend last-minute invites, as in previous years, so we’ll have to wait and see who gains entry that way. There are a few guys playing LIV that are hoping to receive the hallowed invite.
Photo: Getty Images
Winners, Losers & Payouts: Gary Woodland’s Comeback Steals the Show in Houston
– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: Some wins feel big. Others feel important.
And then there are the ones like Gary Woodland delivered at the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open—wins that remind you why you watch sports in the first place…
Click the button to view the full payouts:
Photo: Getty Images
What’s in the Bag: Gary Woodland Winning Setup – 2026 Edition
– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: After nearly seven years away from the winner’s circle, Gary Woodland is back—and his win at the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open might be the most meaningful of his career. It was also meaningful for Cobra, which doesn’t have a big roster of ambassadors on tour, but they do have Woodland. And he has a lot of eyeballs on his game and bag right now…
Click to View Gary’s Winning Bag >
Tiger Woods deserves empathy, but needs to show responsibility, too | Opinion
– by Eamon Lynch / Golfweek
Per Eamon: “The life of Tiger Woods now seems destined to be cemented into two narrative chapters. One will be the sublime brilliance of his professional accomplishments, which played out in golf’s greatest theaters, like Augusta National, St. Andrews and Pebble Beach. The other is his dispiriting and repetitive personal spiral, which has played out in less glamorous precincts, side streets in Florida and California, culminating in the latest incident on a two-lane road on Jupiter Island, where his car, like his life, was upended…”
B&B POV: Eamon does a great job explaining Woods’ history with addiction and the dangers that have resulted from it. What’s most important is that he takes responsibility for his actions while under the influence, especially since he is a role model for millions of golfers and tens of thousands of youth who benefit from his foundation and learning centers. As has become common in recent years, we will focus on his health and set aside the desire to watch him compete on the course.
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I’m not crying, you’re crying!
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