Why does Gary Woodland have PTSD? Golfer opens up about ongoing battle after brain surgery

Apr 9, 2026 - 17:30

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Why does Gary Woodland have PTSD? Golfer opens up about ongoing battle after brain surgery originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

With five PGA Tour wins -- including a triumph in the 2019 U.S. Open -- Gary Woodland has established himself as one of the more popular golfers on the Tour circuit.

The Topeka, Kan. native's game is at times effortless, marked by sweeping drives and inch-perfect putts. While he hasn't been able to match the performances of some of the finest golfers of his generation, Woodland remains a headliner, particularly when his shots are falling.

Woodland returned to prominence in 2026, claiming his first PGA Tour win in six years at the Houston Open. It was an especially noteworthy moment for Woodland, who was just three years removed from undergoing surgery to remove a lesion on a tract of his brain.

Woodland's return to form made him a darling among golf viewers. It hasn't been the easiest of journeys for the former University of Kansas star, however, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder shortly after his operation.

With that, here's what you need to know about Woodland's experience with PTSD, a diagnosis he continues to battle in the years since his surgery.

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Why does Gary Woodland have PTSD?

Woodland was diagnosed with PTSD in 2023, shortly after undergoing surgery to remove a lesion on his brain. Woodland underwent scans after experiencing symptoms of panic attacks, tremors and chills. His MRI revealed that he had a benign tumor pushing down on the part of his brain that dictates his fear.

There were times when he'd wake up in the middle of the night, hands gripping the side of the bed.

“I thought everything was going to kill me,” Woodland said, according to The Athletic.

Woodland returned to action four months after his operation. The ordeal shook him to his core, however. His symptoms continued into the months following his operation. He was subsequently diagnosed with PTSD.

“Every week I come out, and everyone is so excited and happy that I’m back,” Woodland said while speaking with the Golf Channel in 2026. “And I appreciate the love and support, but inside, I feel like I’m dying. I feel like I’m living a lie.”

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Gary Woodland brain surgery

In Sept. 2023, Woodland underwent surgery to remove a benign lesion in his brain. Surgeons drilled a "baseball-sized hole" on the left side of Woodland's skull. The wound was big enough that it required 30 staples to close.

Doctors didn't remove all of the tumor -- they were concerned that a full removal would jeopardize vision in his left eye and use of the left side of his body.

Nevertheless, the operation was deemed a sweeping success.

“It was very emotional because I had gone four-and-a-half months of every day really thinking I was going to die,” Woodland said, per The Associated Press.