For much of his career, Gary Woodland was known as a quiet competitor, letting his golf do the talking. He turned professional in 2007 and quickly established himself as one of the longest hitters on the Tour. But it was his triumph at the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach that truly defined him. Holding off Brooks Koepka with a clutch short game and nerves of steel, Woodland cemented his place in golf history. After that, he remained a strong presence on the Tour, though he never quite reached the same heights again. Then, in 2023, everything changed.

Woodland began experiencing severe headaches, dizziness, and episodes that left him disoriented. At first, he brushed them off. But as the symptoms worsened, his caddie asked him to get it checked, and then doctors discovered a tumor in his brain. Surgery was the only option. He underwent the procedure in September 2023, knowing full well that the road to recovery would be grueling. But what he didn’t expect was just how much his body—and mind—would struggle to adjust.

“Last year was one of the hardest years of my life,” Woodland shared. “I didn’t know how I was going to be. There were days waking up, I didn’t know if I was going to feel good. I was driving through places where, yeah, I pulled over there and had to call my wife crying because I thought I was going to die.” Despite everything, Woodland made an astonishingly quick return to competitive golf, teeing it up less than four months after surgery. But it wasn’t easy. The overstimulation from tournament crowds, the headaches, the physical fatigue—it all took a toll.

“I probably shouldn’t have played last year,” Woodland confessed. “I could have taken a medical exemption, but golf is what I love. And I’m proud that I pushed through.” But now that he’s back, he’s trying to make up for the lost time and seek redemption. His game in Houston proved that.

At the 2025 Texas Children’s Houston Open, Woodland delivered one of his best performances since returning, finishing beautifully T2 at -19. “They were chanting my name. Every shot, everybody’s yelling. It was loud, and it was amazing, and I fed off that energy,” he said in his pre-tournament press conference, right before the 2025 Valero Texas Open starting April 3 to 6. “The weekend was something I hadn’t seen out here for me. I’ve seen other guys get a lot of love and support. It was special, and I’m very thankful for that.”

You see, for years, Gary Woodland has been a familiar presence on the PGA Tour, but he had not experienced something like this, at least not very often. So, as he walked the fairways last week, the roars of the crowd, the waves of encouragement, the chants of his name—it was a level of adoration usually reserved for golf’s biggest stars, the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. And for Woodland, it was overwhelming in the best way possible.

That moment wasn’t just about golf. It was the culmination of a battle far tougher than any major championship.  Woodland refused to let the tumor define him. Alongside his wife, Gabby, he sought out specialists, developing techniques to manage his symptoms—breathing exercises, medication, and a structured approach to keeping his nervous system calm.

Now, with a renewed sense of control over his health and game, Woodland is proving that his fight was never just about making a comeback—it was about competing at the highest level once again. So, he does deserve a few cheers.

What’s next for Woodland?

A fresh start in 2025. Three top-25 finishes in his first four events suggest that Woodland is knocking on the door again. He’s learning how to balance his health with the demands of professional golf, and with each round, he’s getting stronger.

“At the end of the day, I’m fighting,” he said after receiving the PGA Tour’s Courage Award. “The last thing I’m going to do is let this thing in my head stop my dreams. I know my game is close. It’s coming, and I’m going to keep knocking on that door until I bust through.”

Now, Woodland turns his attention to his next tournament, the 2025 Valero Open, where he hopes to build on his recent momentum. He knows he still has work to do, but for the first time in a long time, he believes in his game again. And now, he’s feeling something even more powerful—the support of the fans.

That crowd reaction last week clearly meant the world to Woodland. And the golf world is watching, hoping, and cheering him on every step of the way.