AN EMOTIONAL Gary Woodland won his first tournament since life-or-death brain surgery and his PTSD diagnosis before breaking down in tears hugging his wife.
The American, 41, claimed the 2019 US Open at Pebble Beach but had not tasted victory on the PGA Tour in the subsequent seven years before landing the Texas Children’s Houston Open by five shots with a record-breaking score of -21.
He led by one shot from former European Ryder Cup star Nicolai Hojgaard after 54 holes but the Dane endured a tough day and initially struggled to keep pace.
Woodland, openly liberated since going public with his PTSD, made four birdies in five holes on the front nine thanks to his superb short game and opened up a seven-stroke gap.
His only blemish came with a bogey on the 14th but it was a safety-first ride to the end as Hojgaard left himself with too much ground to make up, trailing by four on the 18th tee and bogeying the last.
And after Woodland kept his composure and rolled in his 5ft putt on the 18th green, the emotions immediately came pouring out as he celebrated the special moment.
His wife Gabby joined him and he sobbed on her shoulder as the crowd chanted “Gary, Gary, Gary”.
Woodland said: “I didn’t give up. Golf’s a lot like life: it’s not easy, you hit bumps in the road but you’ve just got to keep fighting. And I’m proud that I did that.
“I wasn’t alone out there today.
“I haven’t felt like this in a long time. A couple of years ago, this didn’t seem like it was possible.
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“Anybody that’s struggling with something, I hope they see me and don’t give up. Just keep fighting.
“Today was a good day, but I’m going to keep fighting. I got a big fight ahead of me and I’m going to keep going, but I’m proud of myself right now.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere without my family. There’s no chance I could do this without Gabby. I love her to death.”
Tommy Fleetwood tweeted: “It was always ‘a when not an if’ Gary Woodland. So proud of everything for you and the family – a huge inspiration to us all!! Congratulations.”
Harry Hall was the best-placed Englishman in T28 on -7 – level with Ireland’s Ryder Cup hero Shane Lowry, who bagged a hole in one on the second.
But the day, and the week, rightfully belonged to gent Woodland, already a popular figure within golf even before his tumultuous journey away from the course in recent years.
Woodland and wife Gabby tragically lost one of their twins during pregnancy in 2017.
Then in September 2023, Woodland had a major operation – including cutting a baseball-sized hole in his head – to remove a brain tumour which was pushing on the part of the brain that produces fear and anxiety.
The golfer wrote letters to his three children in case he did not survive.
As documented on Netflix’s Full Swing, the procedure was, thankfully, a success and he returned to pro golf just 115 days later and made two of the four major cuts in 2024.
However, Woodland bravely revealed earlier this month that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
In a lengthy interview with the Golf Channel at The Players, he opened up on the mental and emotional turmoil he continues to struggle with, including his diagnosis a year ago.
Tearful Woodland revealed the pain of “dying inside,” “living a lie” and admitted he “can’t waste energy hiding this any more”.
He has consulted military veterans to discuss his PTSD and various coping mechanisms to get through each round and each day.
