Gary Woodland leads Houston Open as Nicolai Hojgaard targets Masters spot
Gary Woodland holds a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Houston Open as Nicolai Hojgaard chases him down in a bid to secure qualification for The Masters.
The American shot a superb seven-under-par 63 to reach 13 under ahead of the weekend at Memorial Park.
Hojgaard sits tied for second alongside Jackson Suber after matching the round of the day with an eight-under 62.
Hojgaard focuses on Augusta return
The 25-year-old Dane must remain inside the top 50 of the world rankings after this week’s tournament to receive an invitation to Augusta National.
He is currently ranked 47th globally and strengthened his position with a stellar Friday round featuring an eagle and seven birdies.
Four of those birdies came in consecutive holes to close out his round, leaving the former Ryder Cup star in prime position.
“It’s so easy to say The Masters is not on my mind and good golf will take care of it,” said Hojgaard.
“It’s on my mind 100 per cent, we all want to be there.”
The lightning-fast start in Texas is a welcome boost for the European, who missed the cut on his Masters debut last year.
Woodland feeding off crowd support
Tournament leader Woodland is also playing for a prestigious spot at the first major of the year, which he will secure if he claims the title in Houston.
The 41-year-old is pursuing his first victory on the PGA Tour since winning the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2019.
His resurgence comes after undergoing brain surgery in 2023, following which he has spoken openly about battling post-traumatic stress disorder.
“This as much as any week, I feel like I’ve had a lot of support,” Woodland told reporters.
“The fans have been amazing. I kind of need that energy to help me through the day, that definitely helps.”
Injury heartbreak for Coody
Elsewhere, Pierceson Coody faces an anxious wait to see if he will qualify for Augusta after withdrawing from the event with a back injury.
The grandson of 1971 Masters champion Charles Coody is projected to fall right on the cut-off mark in 50th place.
Meanwhile, world number 56 Michael Thorbjornsen remains firmly in contention for a Masters spot after moving to eight under par.
