What’s in his bag for winning the Houston Open

Gary Woodland is back in the PGA Tour winner’s circle for the first time since winning the US Open nearly seven years ago.

The 41-year-old recently opened up about his struggles with PTSD following brain surgery in late 2023. Now he’s back among the game’s elite, leading the tour in driving distance and clubhead speed while earning his fifth PGA Tour victory this week at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

His driving was one of his keys to victory this past week, as he ranked seventh in distance at nearly 322 yards from 15th in Strokes Gained.

Woodland sports one of the coolest driver setups on the PGA Tour, opting for Cobra’s OPTM Max LS-K driver, something Cobra Tour Rep Ben Schomin described as a “living example” earlier this season. It’s actually a low-spin, blunt version of Cobra’s retail Max K driver that was built specifically with Woodland in mind when he debuted Cobra’s DS-ADAPT Max-K driver last season.

“This is my 18th year on Tour and the drivers I’ve played when I was driving the golf ball are back,” Woodland told GOLF in February, talking about the deep CG drivers designed for players who are improving their game. “Everybody wants the front weight to make the spin go down with the distance. But for some reason, I brought it back, and I started struggling with the spin last year. I went through all the drivers, and I got to their Max K driver last year, and the spin was low for me for some reason.”

With that deep CG, Woodland prefers a relatively low head, which is why his driver measures in at just 6.4 degrees of loft. He also pairs it with a wire shaft similar to the Ventus Black 8-X shaft.

Schomin and Woodland also made a big change this week just before his win. Woodland made his second iron shaft change of the season.

He started the year playing the soft Nippon Modus 130 X after loving the feel when he added it to the bag last fall. But Schomin never saw it as the best option for him, and they returned to the Dynamic Gold X100 last month.

That was the shaft he first switched to from the KBS C-Taper 130X he used a lot last year because he was trying to block his way out.

“So he was trying to slow down his delivery a little bit and not swing left,” Cobra Tour representative Ben Schomin told GOLF. “Some of the dynamics changed there, and as his swing got more neutral, the X100 was really good. He felt like he could hit a little draw, he felt like he could hit a little bit.”

Woodland’s delivery power puts a ton of spin on the ball, which is why he was in the C-Taper, but he felt the shaft was too full last year.

But, with all the speed Woodland picked up this year, the X100s weren’t rubbing enough, and Woodland was finding that his irons were wearing thin.

So the X100 is starting to soften a bit. Also, going back to the C-Taper 130X is something he’s been toying with for a while. Soon, we knew at some point that he was probably going back to them.”

Schomin was so convinced that Woodland was going back to the C-Taper that he kept a set of King MBs and Cobra Tour Truck shafts for Woodland. That sat in the Cobra truck for about a year until earlier this month when Schomin said Cobra tech James Posey brought them back to HQ because they were taking up space.

“He’s like, ‘Is that still going on there?’ and I said … ‘No, we were just taking them back.’ So I had to build a new set of instruments,” said Schomin. “We just did 5, 7 and 9 for a quick comparison. Of course, you’re like, ‘Yeah, these sound good.’ Then I went to finish the rest of the set.”

With as much speed as Woodland has achieved, he actually said the C-Tapers, one of the stiffest profiles out there, feel better than ever.

“Now he’s like, no, they actually feel good,” Schomin said. “They don’t feel quite the same as the X100, don’t get me wrong, but they feel like I have the speed now to move those things.”

Continue reading below for all the detailed Woodland information.

Gary Woodland wins WITB at 2026 Texas Childrens Houston Open

Driver: Cobra OPTM Max LS-K 9.0˚
FF33Hosel Configuration: F2
Actual loft: 6.4˚
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus 8-X
Tip: 2″
Height: 44.75″

Cobra OPTM Max-K Custom Driver

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Fujikura Ventus Black Wood Shaft (Velocore+)

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3-Wood: Ping G440 Max
Location: 15˚
Shaft: Accra Tour Z XTreme 4100 M5

PING G440 Max Custom Fairway Wood

The G440 fairway family (MAX, LST, SFT) enhances PING’s reputation as the tour model of choice with a redesigned face system and low CG system. The face is longer for more confidence while maintaining a CG surface that delivers superior launch performance. The MAX model (fits most golfers) is available in five lofts (including a new 4 wood) to provide multiple golfing solutions. HIGH MOI Easy to launch, stable design increases forgiveness. REFLECTIVE FACE The flexible iron flexes for more ball speed, improving spin. TALLER FACE PROFILE Improves performance off the tee, maintaining a low CG. FREE HOSE DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, improve launch/spin and increase forgiveness.

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A tool to use: Wilson Staff Model Utility
Location: 18˚
Shaft: KBS Tour C-Taper 130 X

Wilson Staff Model RB Utility Iron

The new Staff Model RB Utility features a durable C300 steel face that provides a forged feel to help you redefine your long game performance. This club helps players fill the gap between their shortest fairway wood and their longest iron. The flexibility it offers on the golf course makes it the perfect three-by-three solution, accessible to both five-and-a-half fairways.

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Irons: Cobra King Tour Chrome (4), King MB Chrome (5-9)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper 130 X

Cobra KING MB Custom Instruments

Designed for blade aficionados, traditionalists, and those who desire nothing but the best golfing experience possible. 5 STEPS RELEASED The 5 steps are designed and constructed from 1025 carbon steel for an exclusive feel and compact shape. working muscles back in 7 by using a pitching wedge. Full sets of MB and CB are available for customization

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Wedges: Cobra King RAW (48-56), Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack Proto (60)
Lofts/Grind: 48D, 52C, 56C, 60
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Cobra KING Custom Wedge

Manufactured from 8620 steel using MIM (Metal Injection Molding), KING Wedges are some of the softest felt on the market. Choose from four new guides (DROP, WIDELOW, VERSATILE, TOUR) for enhanced greenside creativity and advanced CG with Flight Window Technology (FWT) for tour-inspired implementation. The redesigned Cobra Speed ​​Notch, 67% larger than before, ensures better smoothness and speed in open-face shooting. MIM (METAL INJECTION MOLDING) Experience precision with MIM technology, which offers 50% tighter tolerances than conventional casted wedges. Each head is heat treated to approximately 1400°C, which ensures a strong grain structure for a soft feel and improved longevity, resisting groove wear for long service life. COBRA SPEED NOTCH Discover Cobra’s newly redesigned Speed ​​Notch, featuring a sleek, compact design that complements our new grind. Now 67% larger, it ensures a smooth glide on the ground while maintaining speed and delivering high spin shots.

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Putter: Scotty Cameron GoLo Tour Prototype
Catch: SuperStroke

Scotty Cameron Style Studio Fastback OC Putter

As an extension of the popular Studio Style Fastback design, the Studio Style Fastback OC is a low-torque model with the same weight, high alignment, multi-component design of other Fastback models, but with the proven OC touring technology package. Featuring a center shaft placement behind the leading edge of the putter face, the vertical shaft is perfectly positioned parallel to the CG position of the putter head and leans forward by 1°. This allows for low torque operation and face alignment that stays square to the road. STUDIO CARBON STEEL (SCS) FACE INSERT The Studio Style Fastback OC features a chain-link milled Studio Carbon Steel (SCS) insert for smooth sound and feel, treated with electroless nickel plating for durability with aerospace-inspired vibrations for tuned sound, feel and performance. CUSTOM BLACK SHAFT Custom designed for the new OC putters, each model features a special KBS x Scotty Cameron black shaft that bends smoothly, unobstructed alignment and precise feel. CUSTOM MATADOR GRIP With a built-in retracted chain-link texture, each new OC putter features a custom 11-inch Matador grip in black with a green and cool red finish.

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Football: 2025 Titleist Pro V1

Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls

The Greatest Combination of Speed, Spin and Feel Pro V1 golf balls are the best choice for premium performance for many players and the most played model in golf. Why play Pro V1? The Pro V1 is recommended for players looking for mid-trajectory flight, very low long game spin and great short game spin, with a soft feel. Comparison with the Pro V1x Due to its unique dimple pattern, the Pro V1 has a lower flight than the Pro V1x. The soft gradient core produces a softer feel and less spin than the Pro V1x.

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Holding: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Match

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