Gary Woodland's toughest year recovering from brain surgery is also his proudest
- Gary Woodland says this season has become his proudest as he continues recovering from brain surgery that removed part of a lesion discovered in 2023.
- He has dealt with post-traumatic stress disorder and lingering fear from sudden movement, including problems with carts, drones and people approaching from behind.
- Woodland gave an emotional Golf Channel interview in March about the condition, describing times when he has cried in the middle of a round.
- Two weeks after that interview, he won the Houston Open and has added four other top-10 finishes, including at the U.S. Open.
- He is playing the BMW Championship for the first time in six years and entered the PGA Tour playoffs ranked No. 27 in the FedEx Cup, with a chance to reach the Tour Championship.
- Heat and elevated heart rate remain an issue for him, and he said last week’s extreme conditions at TPC Southwind were difficult to manage.
Gary Woodland says the hardest year of his career has also become the one he is most proud of. He is still recovering from brain surgery in September 2023, when doctors removed part of a lesion that had caused him severe fear and anxiety about dying.
Woodland has described ongoing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, including being startled by sudden movement, carts in the distance, or drones. He said he has had moments of breaking down emotionally during rounds, and he has needed extra support around tournaments to help manage those reactions.
Despite those issues, Woodland has put together a strong season. He won the Houston Open two weeks after speaking publicly about his condition, added four other top-10 finishes including at the U.S. Open, and reached the BMW Championship for the first time in six years.
He entered the PGA Tour playoffs ranked No. 27 in the FedEx Cup and remains in position to qualify for the Tour Championship. Woodland said the heat and his need to keep his heart rate under control made last week especially difficult, but he said he has learned a great deal over the course of the year.
格里·伍德兰德在脑部手术后最艰难的一年，也是他最自豪的一年
伍德兰德表示，自己职业生涯最艰难的一年，也成了他最自豪的一年。2023年9月，医生为他做了脑部手术，切除了一个病灶的一部分，自那以后他一直在恢复，并承受着与死亡恐惧相关的严重焦虑。
他说，自己仍有创伤后应激障碍的表现，会被突然的动作、远处的推车或无人机惊到。在比赛中，他有时会情绪失控，甚至在球道上落泪。为了应对这些情况，他在比赛期间需要额外的随行支持。
尽管如此，他本赛季的成绩依然出色。就在公开谈论病情两周后，他赢得休斯敦公开赛，并拿下另外四个前十名成绩，其中包括美国公开赛。他还时隔六年首次进入BMW锦标赛。
他以联邦快递杯第27名进入美巡季后赛，仍有机会晋级巡回锦标赛。伍德兰德说，上周的高温和控制心率的要求让他格外吃力，但他也表示，这一整年让他学到了很多。