Paul Waring, a full-time member of the PGA Tour, has taken the lead at the 2026 Houston Open after a bogey-free 7-under 63 to take the first-round lead. Waring had a difficult season with 10 missed cuts and a withdrawal across 12 tournaments due to injury, but his performance improved. His first three starts on this year produced three straight missed cuts. Gary Woodland also revealed that he is battling post-traumatic stress disorder following his 2023 brain surgery. The PGA has implemented additional security measures for when Woodland plays due to his anxiety and hyper awareness. Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler is pushing for a high finish to reach the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings and earn an invitation to the Masters.