Nicolai Hojgaard enters the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open trailing leader Gary Woodland by just one stroke.
Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Continuing his solid play, Gary Woodland maintained his lead at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. However, he is being seriously challenged by Nicolai Hojgaard, who shot the day’s low round.
With his 7-under 63, Hojgaard chipped two shots off Woodland’s advantage going into the third round. Heading into Sunday’s final round at Memorial Park Golf Course, Hojgaard is just one shot behind the 54-hole leader at 17 under.
Saturday’s 5-under 65 places Woodland at 18 under. Woodland began the third round at 13 under, three up on second-place Hojgaard, who recorded eight birdies.
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“There’s still a lot of players in the field that can win the tournament, but obviously, Gary and I have a good chance Sunday,” Hojgaard said. “I’m going to go out, try to build up the round like I did today, try to see where we end up. I’m happy where the game is at.”
Woodland has one top-25 finish in seven starts this season, but his game this week is at a good place as well. He has posted rounds of 64-63-65 in Houston.
The last 54-hole individual lead for Woodland was his win in the 2019 U.S. Open. Woodland never trailed at any point Saturday. His advantage shrank to a single shot, but the Topeka, Kan., native kept executing shots and making putts to stay ahead.
“I’ll have a good night ahead of me tonight to recover and rest, and tomorrow, just don’t get ahead of yourself,” Woodland said. “I’m here, I put myself in this position for a reason. So take a deep breath and maintain what I’m doing.”
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Woodland is attempting to become the first player to finish runner-up and then win the same tournament the next season since Robert MacIntyre (2023 and 2024 Genesis Scottish Open). Woodland has four PGA Tour wins. He also has wins at the 2011 Valspar Championship, 2013 Reno-Tahoe Open and 2018 Phoenix Open.
Hojgaard has compiled rounds of 68-62-63. His 7 under came one day after tying the tournament 18-hole scoring record with a personal-best 8-under 62.
“The course is playing into my strengths,” Hojgaard said. “Good driving length off the tee and approach play, and then I felt like I had good pace with the putter all day. It felt one of those rounds where I felt, I didn’t do much, ended up shooting a good score.”
Hojgaard is looking for his first victory in his 63rd start. He has a runner-up finish in each of the past three seasons — 2023 Corales Puntacana Championship, 2024 Farmers Insurance Open and the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans with teammate/brother Rasmus.
Both Woodland and Hojgaard bogeyed the first hole Saturday. That was Hojgaard’s only bogey. Woodland posted seven birdies and two bogeys.
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Playing in Sunday’s final threesome will be Woodland, Hojgaard and reigning champion Min Woo Lee. The trio will go off at 11:55 a.m. at the No. 1 tee.
Lee and Michael Thorbjornsen share third at 12 under. Lee seeks to become the second player to successfully defend a Houston Open title. Vijay Singh’s second of back-to-back wins came in 2005 at Golf Club of Houston.
The 24-year-old Thorbjornsen has played his past 50 holes without a bogey, the longest bogey-free streak of his career. He also is in search of his first victory in his 53rd start on the PGA Tour. His best finish is a tie for second at the 2024 John Deere Classic and 2025 Corales Puntacana Championship.
“That’s kind of the mindset going into this week, just minimize mistakes,” Thorbjornsen said. “There are a couple holes that you’re going to make birdie out there, whether you make a putt or stiff one close. They’re going to come, you just can’t force it.”
Sharing fifth at 11 under are Jason Day and Sam Stevens, who charged his way into the mix with a 67 on Saturday.
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First-round leader Paul Waring recovered from an over-par second round to card 66 on Saturday, five shots improved from Friday. Waring’s move positions him at 10 under for a share of seventh.
Chris Gotterup is the only player in the field ranked in the world top 10. The only multiple winner on tour this year, he shot 65 on Saturday and is minus-8 for the tournament.
Taking advantage of playing on a sponsors exemption, Bronson Burgoon of The Woodlands signed for a bogey-free, 4-under 66.
“Home events are always nice, sleep in my own bed. A little bit of a drive, but it’s still nice,” said Burgoon, who was a two-time Texas state high school individual champion at The Woodlands, and gave Texas A&M the winning point for the 2009 national championship. “I was very grateful for the exemption.”
Thru three rounds, Burgoon sits at 8 under. He opened Saturday with birdies on each of the first three holes, adding birdie on 15.
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Injuries have derailed Burgoon’s professional career. Chief among them an ailing right shoulder that bothered him for years.
“I’m excited. I’m enjoying golf for the first time in a decade and a half, two decades,” Burgoon, 38, said. “I feel very grateful to be out there playing and just having fun.”