Gary Woodland Brushes Away Tears After Winning First PGA Title Since Undergoing Brain Surgery
· Yahoo Sports
Credit: Jordan Bank/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Gary Woodland is in the winner's circle
- The pro golfer won the Texas Children's Houston Open on Sunday, March 29
- Woodland, who underwent brain surgery in September 2023, was emotional at the finish
Gary Woodland had an emotional return to the winner’s circle on Sunday, nearly seven years after his last PGA Tour win — and two and a half years after he underwent brain surgery.
The golfer, 41, who earned his fifth career win on the tour at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, was emotional at the finish as he went to tee off for hole 18.
"It's just another day,” he told reporters. “Today was a good day. But I've got a big fight ahead of me, and I'm going to keep going. But I'm proud of myself right now."
As the crowd chanted his name as he walked the final hole, Woodland smiled and acknowledged the gallery.
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Gary Woodland smiles after winning the Houston OpenCredit: Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty
His playing partners, Min Woo Lee and Nicolai Hojgaard, followed about 50 yards behind, and encouraged the fans to cheer, according to Golfweek.
In an interview with the Golf Channel earlier this month, Woodland revealed that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following his 2023 surgery to remove a lesion on his brain.
Woodland recalled a recent experience in which he was triggered when a scorer in his group got too close for his comfort.
"I stepped aside, I pulled my caddie and said, 'This stuff is hitting me, man. You can't let anybody get behind me,' " he said. "Next thing you know, I couldn't remember what I was doing. My eyesight started to get blurry. And a hole later, I just said, 'Butch, I can't handle it.' And I start bawling in the middle of the fairway. It was my turn to hit, and I couldn't hit."
The Kansas native shared that while he has appreciated the fans’ reaction to his return to the sport, internally it’s been a struggle.
"Every week, I come out and everyone is so excited and happy that I'm back,” Woodland told the outlet. “I hear that every week: 'It's so nice to see you passed this. It's so nice to see you 100%,' And I appreciate that love and support, but inside, I feel like I'm dying.”
Credit: Jordan Bank/Getty
With his wife Gabby Granado looking on and there to celebrate his big afternoon in Houston, Woodland now qualifies for the Masters in two weeks.
The golfer said that he hopes his triumph can be an inspiration to others.
"We play an individual sport out here, but I wasn't alone today," Woodland said, getting emotional on Sunday. "Anyone struggling with something, I hope they see me and don't give up. Just keep fighting.”
Read the original article on People