Gary Woodland Brushes Away Tears After Winning First PGA Title Since Undergoing Brain Surgery
Woodland, 41, underwent surgery to remove a lesion on his brain in September 2023
Gary Woodland embraces wife Gabby Granado after winning the Houston Open 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. Gary Woodland smiles after winning the Houston Open Credit: 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.