January 29, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Gary Woodland hits a shot from the second tee during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course – South Course. Mandatory Credit: Abe Arredondo-Imagn Images PGA Tour veteran Gary Woodland revealed Monday that he has been battling post-traumatic stress disorder related to brain surgery he underwent two and a half years ago.
Surgery in September 2023 resolved the lesion and stopped the seizures. Woodland, the 2019 US Open champion, returned to the tour the following January and has played regularly since then, but not everything has been smooth sailing.
“I can’t waste any more energy hiding this, and I’m blessed to have a lot of support here on tour,” Woodland, 41, said in an emotional interview with Golf Channel. “Everyone has been so amazing. I come out every week and everyone is so excited and happy that I’m back. I hear about it every week. It’s so nice to see this past, and I’m so glad to see you 100%. And I appreciate the love and support. But I feel like I’m dying on the inside, and I feel like I’m being lied to.”
Woodland explained his struggles while discussing an incident that occurred at an event in Napa, California, last fall.
Woodland was triggered by a tournament employee walking near him on the golf course.
“I stepped aside, pulled my caddy over and said, ‘This is hitting me. I can’t let anyone get behind me,’” Woodland said. “Next thing I couldn’t remember what I was doing. My vision started to blur. And after the hole, I just said… ‘I can’t take it.’ And I start screaming in the middle of the fairway. It was my turn to hit and I couldn’t hit,” he said.
The caddy told Woodland to “let’s go in,” but Woodland decided to stay in because he was competing with two members of the U.S. Ryder Cup team for whom he would serve as vice captain.
“I said, ‘No, I’m here for these people. I want to get through this,’” Woodland said. “I went to every bathroom all day to cry. I got in my car after work and got out of there.
“There are hard days, like crying in the scoring trailer and running to the car to hide. I don’t want to live like that anymore.”
Discussing his mental health struggles, Woodland said, “I hope someone who’s struggling sees that I’m still here fighting and fighting and trying to make my dreams come true. I’ve talked to veterans and one thing I’ve heard from several is that no matter how strong you think you are, you can’t do this alone. …
“I want to help people too. Now I realize I need to help myself first. I hope this is the first step.”
Woodland has four career wins on the PGA Tour and hasn’t won since winning the U.S. Open five and a half years ago. Last year, he finished in the top 10 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, tied for second, and finished 72nd in the FedEx Cup standings.
–Field level media
