We all know how tough the PGA Tour can be, but Gary Woodland’s journey over the past year has been on a whole different level. The PGA Tour golfer has been through a lot, from undergoing brain surgery to remove a lesion to struggling with PTSD and adapting to a new normal. We mean, can you even imagine going through something like that? It can really break a person to the point they don’t even want to get up but Woodland was not one of them and is still playing at a pro level.

In the latest episode of the Drop Zone podcast on Spotify, Xander Schauffele sat down with Dylan Dethier to dish about life on the PGA Tour. When asked about his fellow golfers, Schauffele had some high praise for Woodland, saying “Gary’s, Gary’s got to be up there, you know?” He also added, “I’m happy he’s kind of coming around, you know, he’s, he’s, he’s definitely a really fun one to be around.
He brings a lot of spice to the group, no doubt.” It’s clear that Woodland is a beloved figure on the tour, and his ability to have fun and bring levity to the game is inspiring.

But despite his fun-loving nature, Woodland’s struggles with PTSD and his ongoing recovery are very real. As he himself has said, “I’m on medicine indefinitely now,” and “Now the days of me getting up in the morning and getting out of bed and just going about my life, those are over.” Schauffele’s conversation with Dethier was a great reminder that, despite the glamour of the PGA Tour, these golfers are human beings who face real challenges – and it’s awesome to see them supporting each other through thick and thin.

But Woodland’s journey has been one of resilience and patience.

Gary Woodland’s terrifying journey

Gary Woodland’s life was turned upside down in 2024 April when he started experiencing terrifying symptoms at the Mexico Open. He’d wake up in the middle of the night, jolted by unfounded fears, and couldn’t shake off the feeling of dread. His hands would tremble, he’d get chills, and his energy levels would plummet. Woodland, a former U.S. Open champion, was never one to be driven by fear, but this was different. “I’m a very optimistic person. I believe good things will happen,” he said. But this time, he was consumed by thoughts of death, and it was a constant, gnawing anxiety that he couldn’t escape. “I was very fear-driven every day, mostly around death.” He even admitted, “That was the one that scared me the most.”

The diagnosis, which came after an MRI ordered to rule out Parkinson’s disease, revealed a lesion on his brain, which explained the fear-driven symptoms. Woodland played 10 tournaments while struggling with these symptoms, remarkably making eight out of 10 cuts. But the toll it took on his mental and physical health was immense. He underwent brain surgery to remove the lesion, and while he’s still recovering, Woodland’s story can serve as a daily reminder that even when life is throwing challenges your way, you can tackle them all with a smile and a brave heart.