Four months after doctors removed a baseball-sized hole from his head, former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland is back on the links, and the emotional stakes are higher than ever.
The Return
Woodland returned to golf after a brain surgery that required a large incision to remove a lesion. He said he feels fortunate to still be playing and that the emotions were strong.
The Family Challenge
Woodland is competing in the 36-hole PNC Championship, a family scramble that pairs major champions with relatives. He received an invitation, and the next day he called his father in Kansas to share the news. “I can’t think of a better way to start the holidays. Got the whole family here – the grandkids here, my daughter’s here, my wife’s here. I’m excited,” Dan Woodland said, his voice at times cracking. “This is a special week for both of us for perspective,” Woodland said.
The Personal Battle
Before the Sony Open, Woodland’s mother informed him that his father had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma. Dan had five months of chemotherapy, six days in the hospital every three weeks, and rang the cancer-free bell late last year. He added, “I can’t think of a better way to start the holidays. Got the whole family here – the grandkids here, my daughter’s here, my wife’s here. I’m excited.” Woodland said he has hit more golf balls the last month and a half than in the last 25 years.
The Road Ahead
Woodland is still in recovery mode. He narrowly missed the FedEx Cup playoffs by two spots at No. 72 and served as an assistant to U.S. captain Keegan Bradley on the Ryder Cup team. He said, “I’m still healing. At the end of the day, I’ve still got a tumor in my head on my brain. It hasn’t grown in two years, so we’re good with that, but it’s in a part of the brain that causes me a lot of issues, and I’m still battling and grinding with it. The surgeons and doctors are happy with where I’m at, but I have a long way to go.” He also noted the need for quiet, especially with his eight-year-old son Jaxson and six-year-old twins Maddox and Lennox.
The Legacy
Woodland grew up as a three-sport star in high school, choosing between baseball, basketball, and golf. His father thought baseball was his best sport and basketball his greatest love. When Woodland was a rookie, his parents attended about 15 tournaments a year. They were at Pebble Beach when he drilled a 3-wood onto the par-5 14th green in the final round and hit a flop shot off the green to the other side on the 17th for a par that sealed the win. His father missed the iconic lob wedge on the 17th. “I was heading to 18,” Woodland said, “but to watch that last putt go in … incredible.”
Key Takeaways
- Former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland is back on the links after brain surgery.
- He is competing in the PNC Championship with his father, who has survived aggressive lymphoma.
- Woodland remains in recovery, balancing golf, family, and ongoing medical care.
Woodland’s return, the family’s resilience, and his ongoing battle with a lingering brain tumor make the PNC Championship a celebration of triumph and perseverance.
