Paul Waring, a regular participant on the PGA Tour, had previously achieved his top result as a tie for 47th at the 2025 Canadian Open. Despite facing challenges with injuries and his form, the 41-year-old English golfer had a breakthrough performance on Thursday at the 2026 Houston Open, commencing his play at Memorial Park with an unblemished 7-under 63, securing an early advantage in the opening round.
This week in Houston, Waring was competing under a medical exemption. His inaugural season on the PGA Tour proved demanding, marked by ten missed cuts and one withdrawal across twelve events as he strove to play despite physical discomfort. His initial three appearances on the PGA Tour in 2026 mirrored this pattern with three consecutive missed cuts, yet these missed opportunities also presented him with a chance to refine his approach.
Waring remarked, “Honestly, I’ve gained some positive momentum in recent weeks. Even though I didn’t make the cut at the Valspar Championship and Cognizant Classic, I sensed my golf was in good shape. … I squandered too many strokes early in the season, but this week, things were much cleaner, no bogeys, and I sank a significant distance of putts today. I believe I was just informed that my putts totaled over 160 feet, which is substantial and provides a significant edge.”
Waring’s score of 63 stood out as the leading round at Memorial Park, surpassing the next best by a single stroke, achieved by Gary Woodland who finished with a 64 after carding birdies on three of his last four holes in the late hours. Woodland, who is also navigating personal challenges, had previously disclosed at The Players Championship that he has been contending with post-traumatic stress disorder since undergoing brain surgery in 2023.
With candor, Woodland communicated that the psychological and emotional strain of his surgery had been incapacitating. The PGA Tour implemented extra security protocols for his rounds, as he experiences intense anxiety and heightened vigilance, symptoms often linked with PTSD, and he has reported a significant sense of relief since making his disclosure.
Woodland stated, “The reaction has been… considerable, and it’s been equally significant for me because I’ve experienced much alleviation. I genuinely felt as if an enormous burden had been lifted from me that day. It was difficult to do; I was shedding tears before the interview, and afterward, I departed feeling immensely lighter. I’m engaged in a personal struggle, but it’s comforting not to face it in solitude, I can assure you. We’re progressing one day at a time and striving for continuous improvement. The Tour here functions as a family, and their support has been extraordinary. The entire golf community has been incredible, and I am profoundly grateful.”
Concurrently, Rickie Fowler is competing for stakes beyond merely a championship this week. Currently positioned at No. 61 in the Official World Golf Rankings, Fowler requires a strong performance to ascend into the top 50, which would secure his entry into the season’s initial major tournament.
Fowler commented, “I experienced a strong stretch last year, particularly in the latter half, and felt confident about my play. I utilized some time off to focus on my physical condition and improve my shoulder, so I wasn’t enduring discomfort while playing. Fortuitously, I performed well throughout the summer. I had the assurance that we could approach the course with straightforward golf. That momentum continued from AmEx, where I managed things effectively. Much of it boils down to the mental aspect, avoiding overexertion or attempts at anything extraordinary, instead allowing the rounds to unfold naturally, assembling the pieces, and strategically navigating the course.”
Fowler shares a score of 3-under with Sahith Theegala, ranked 80th globally, who similarly requires an outstanding showing at his former residence. Pierceson Coody, a former Texas Longhorn, recorded a 70 and will contend with the cutline on Friday, aiming for the necessary outcome to advance from his position just outside the Masters qualification at world No. 51 to within the coveted threshold.
Leader
1. Paul Waring (-7): Waring participated in the DP World Tour from 2008 to 2024, securing his spot on the PGA Tour by winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship during the postseason. Declining the chance to compete in the United States would have been unwise, though his experience since has been challenging. Nevertheless, Waring is confident that his current form is approaching his 2024 performance. Although his putting was the most significant factor, he also hit 14 greens in regulation and 9 out of 13 fairways in the opening round, indicating that his all-around game is improving.
Waring remarked, “It’s not too far off. During that week [in Abu Dhabi in 2024], I felt my wedge play was outstanding, which was key to my low scoring. I adopted an assertive approach from the tee, creating numerous opportunities for myself. This golf course suits my style well. … I’d characterize it as broad and quite forgiving off the tee, enabling me to swing with pace and without apprehension. This allowed me to swing unhindered and position myself for wedge shots, particularly on the par 5s. Fundamentally, all my efforts have focused on emulating what I did a couple of years ago to return to my current position. I hope to build upon today’s performance and observe how the rest of the week unfolds.”
Contenders
2. Gary Woodland (-6)
T3. Sam Burns, Michael Brennan, Tom Hoge (-5)
T6. Marco Penge, Stephan Jaeger, Kurt Kitayama, Matt Wallace (-4)
The narrative surrounding Woodland is quite compelling. Just one week after his candid disclosure, he secured a top-15 result at the Valspar Championship, and now, in the subsequent week, he finds himself a strong competitor at the Houston Open. This course has historically been favorable for the former U.S. Open victor, with a second-place finish last season, alongside prior placements of tied-21st and tied-9th.
From a statistical standpoint, Woodland delivered an impressive performance in Round 1. He achieved the second-best ranking in greens in regulation and placed within the top 10 for both ball-striking metrics and putting. While these figures are commendable on paper, a more crucial factor was Woodland’s evident comfort on the course.
Woodland remarked, “Ultimately, it comes down to self-assurance. I’ve engaged in productive practice sessions over the past few months, but I hadn’t observed those efforts translate on the course, so the challenge was to remain composed. Last week, I began to see encouraging indicators during play. Even when facing early setbacks in a couple of rounds last week, I rallied strongly towards the finish. Today, I managed to start well, played consistently, and felt positive throughout the entire day, which is a significant advantage.”
