Playing on a medical exemption in front of a gallery of less than ten people, little known 41-year-old Englishman Paul Waring stole the show in the first round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

Waring fired a seven-under par opening round 63 to lead by one shot from 2019 US Open champion Gary Woodland at public course Memorial Park.

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Looking at Waring’s form line, the performance came entirely out of the blue.

In 16 starts as a PGA Tour member, he has played 72 holes just once.

He is also yet to reach the weekend this year.

Waring earned his Tour card via winning the DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in late 2024, but the journeyman’s rookie season in the United States was cut short by a shoulder injury.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 26: Paul Waring of England walks off the eighth tee during the first round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open 2026 at Memorial Park Golf Course on March 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

He withdrew from last year’s Scottish Open in the third round as a result and was forced to undergo months of rehabilitation.

But now he is fully recovered and after feeling like he was playing with “one arm tied behind my back”, Waring is prepared to fight to keep his card.

“Yeah, back to full fitness now, able to go at it a little bit more with a driver, which is good. It was a battle last year,” he said.

“I had a cortisone injection in my shoulder. I was playing with it taped up most weeks. I was on painkillers just trying to get through it.”

The Dubai-based long-time Challenge and European Tour professional will earn major opportunities as well as a two-year winner’s exemption on the PGA Tour if he can hold on across the next three rounds.

He made his major debut at Carnoustie in 2007 and has featured seven times across The Open and the US Open.

While it was not until his 200th start on the European Tour that Waring claimed his first professional victory, which came in Sweden in 2018.

Given his history and his recent form, it feels as if Waring’s 63 appeared out of thin air.

It was the first time he has broken 70 on the PGA Tour, but the man himself knew the tide would turn soon enough.

“To be fair, I found a little bit of momentum coming forward in the last few weeks. I know missed cuts at Valspar and Cognizant, but felt like my golf game was in a good spot,” Waring said.

“I just didn’t really — I gave too many shots away in the first few weeks, where this week, a lot tidier, no bogeys and holed a good amount of footage today. I think I’ve just been told I holed over 160 foot of putts today, which is massive and gives you a massive advantage.”

Min Woo Lee started his title defence with a two-under par 68.

The 27-year-old showed off the birdie hunting ability that took him to his maiden PGA Tour win 12 months ago, but paid the price for his inconsistency, dropping four shots along the way.

Lee was in the same group as countryman Adam Scott, who made a promising start with a three-under par 67 – the best of the Australian contingent.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 26: Min Woo Lee of Australia looks on from the 14th green during the first round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open 2026 at Memorial Park Golf Course on March 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Jordan Bank/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Jordan Bank / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP

The veteran made five birdies for the day, including four on the back nine to surge to within striking distance of the lead.

Australian youngster Karl Vilips is at the same mark as Lee.

The second year PGA Tour professional was in a share of second place at five-under with five holes left to play.

But three late bogeys tempered his charge up the leaderboard.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 26: Karl Vilips of Australia plays a shot from the 12th tee during the first round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open 2026 at Memorial Park Golf Course on March 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Jordan Bank/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Jordan Bank / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP

Former world No.1 Jason Day also signed off on a first round 68.

Day fought back strongly from a double bogey on his third hole of the tournament, making five birdies in the remainder of his round.

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It was a rough day for ex-LIV star Brooks Koepka as he shot a five-over par 75.

The five-time major champion was two-under after six holes, but collapsed either side of the turn with double bogeys at the seventh, ninth and tenth.