‘Brain Wasn’t Ready’: PGA Tour Winner Opens Up on the Devastating Impact of Near-Death Experience

The 2023 Masters. That was the major turning point for this PGA Tour pro. It’s where Gary Woodland’s life took a dramatic detour as he began experiencing debilitating fear and anxiety, including a paralyzing fear of dying and panic attacks. “Didn’t matter if I was driving a car, [or] on an airplane – I thought everything was going to kill me,” he said per CNN. The darkness was so overwhelming that he genuinely believed he was going to die. Further diagnosis revealed a shocking truth: a brain tumor.

The news sent his world into a tailspin, forcing him to confront the possibility of leaving behind his loved ones. If you’re a parent, imagine having to write goodbye letters to your own kids. Seems devastating, right? For Gary Woodland, this harsh reality became his truth. As he prepared for brain surgery, he penned heartfelt letters to his three young children, Jaxson and twin daughters Maddox and Lennox, hoping they would never have to read them. The thought of not being there for his kids was unbearable, and he wanted to reassure them that they would always be loved and supported as he experienced the inevitable.

Gary Woodland’s letters were a reflection of his love and devotion to his family. He made sure to write similar words to his twin daughters, not wanting them to feel favored or left out. As he explained, “I didn’t want them to feel as though their late father had favored one over the other.” For Jaxson, he offered words of comfort, reminding him that he would always have a team of loved ones to support him, saying, “‘Daddy’s got a big team around him. They’re your team now. There’s a lot of people that will be here for you.'”

But Woodland’s journey back to competitive golf has been far from easy. After undergoing brain surgery, he faced immense challenges, despite having a deep-seated belief in himself. His surgeons’ warnings had been clear, but Woodland’s passion for the game had him believing he could overcome the odds. “I just I have a lot of belief in myself and I just believed at one point I’d catch lightning in a bottle you know, that’s probably a little optimistic but the surgeons told me before surgery, hey you’re going to be a swinging a golf club”, he said in the latest episode on the Fore Play Podcast Plus on YouTube. Unfortunately, the harsh truth soon set in, and the emotional toll of his struggles has been palpable.

Woodland’s brain simply couldn’t handle the intense stimulation of competition, and the exhaustion of playing week after week, coupled with the pressures of performing in front of crowds, became too much to bear. “I’m like there’s a lot more than goes into a golf tournament that shows up on Thursday and play in four round of golf, my brain wasn’t ready to hand handle that stimulation and so that sucked right at the end, there’s no other way to put it but I kept learning and learning”, he said.

It’s a cruel irony that the sport Woodland loves and has given his heart to had to take such a toll on him. But in a beautiful turn of events, golf came full circle and showed its appreciation for Woodland’s tireless passion.

Gary Woodland received the PGA Tour Courage Award

Gary Woodland’s journey has been nothing short of miraculous. The former U.S. Open champion was honored with the PGA Tour Courage Award for his bravery in the face of adversity. He’s not only returning to golf but also fighting to restore his life at home with his wife Gabby and their three children. As he accepted the award, Woodland humbly credited the people around him, saying, “Receiving this is a testament to the people around me… it really belongs to the people around me.”

Woodland’s determination is inspiring, and he’s not letting his health struggles hold him back. “At the end of the day, I’m fighting,” he said. “I want to be there for my kids and my family, but I want to chase my dreams, too. I’ve got a lot of dreams out here.” With the support of his loved ones and his own unwavering spirit, Woodland is knocking on the door of success, and he’s confident that he’ll “bust through” soon. The PGA Tour’s $25,000 donation to Champion Charities, which supports brain tumor research, is a meaningful nod to Woodland’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of others, even as he navigates his own challenging journey. What are your thoughts on Woodland’s story? Let us know in the comment section below!