Gary Woodland said his return to Augusta National Golf Club for the Masters carried added meaning after his March victory at the Houston Open and a health battle that nearly ended his career.
“I love this place,” Woodland said Tuesday. “I love the tradition. There’s nothing like driving down Magnolia Lane. I definitely drove down a little slower this year than I ever have.”
Woodland acknowledged the close crowds at Augusta can be triggering. “It’s a big week for me this week,” he said. “The fans are very close on the tee boxes. There’s a lot going on. There’s probably not a safer golf tournament in the world, so I’m happy for that. But it’s still a battle in my head if I’m safe or not. That’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Woodland, 41, said he underwent surgery in 2023 to remove a benign brain lesion that triggered seizures, anxiety and fear. He said the symptoms persisted and he was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He spent part of his week at Augusta meeting with security officials.
Two weeks ago at the Houston Open, Woodland said he was on high alert late in his second round. “I battled the last 10 holes thinking people were trying to kill me,” he said. He added that the win at the Houston Open secured the last spot in the Masters field, according to Fox News, and that he was proud to have earned his way back. “I’m emotional from the standpoint I know how close I probably was to never being back here, and I’m very proud of myself for earning my way back,” Woodland said.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
