Today, Gary Woodland was named the recipient of the PGA Tour Courage Award, recognized for his inspiring return to the tour following brain surgery.
The 40-year-old Kansas native underwent a craniotomy in September 2023 to remove a benign brain lesion that had been pressing on the part of his brain controlling fear and anxiety. This condition had plagued him with severe symptoms—tremors, chills, loss of appetite, and an overwhelming fear of death—starting in May 2023 during the Mexico Open at Vidanta.
Woodland initially managed his symptoms with medication, continuing to compete through the 2023 season despite the mental and physical toll. However, after missing the FedExCup Playoffs, he opted for surgery, which successfully removed most of the lesion while preserving his vision and motor functions. Remarkably, he returned to the PGA Tour just four months later at the Sony Open in January 2024, and in the 2024 season, he made 26 starts, achieving three top-25 finishes, including a T9 at the Shriners Children’s Open.
The Courage Award, established in 2012, honors those who overcome extraordinary adversity to contribute meaningfully to golf. Woodland, the seventh recipient, joined the likes of Erik Compton and Jarrod Lyle.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan praised Woodland’s “relentless spirit” and “miraculous” recovery, noting his ability to compete at a high level while still managing lingering symptoms. As part of the award, Woodland received $25,000 to donate to Champion Charities, supporting brain tumor research and patients, which he and his wife, Gabby, matched, totaling $50,000.
Woodland’s emotional response during the award presentation at the Cognizant Classic underscored the personal significance of this recognition. Fighting tears, he credited his family and support system, emphasizing how the ordeal shifted his perspective after 17 years on Tour.
“Receiving this is a testament to the people around me because there’s no way, one, I’d be back playing or no way I’d be sitting here today if it wasn’t for them,” Woodland said Wednesday. “It means everything for me to receive it, but it really belongs to the people around me. It’s been hard for me to share my journey, but I’ve done it for the sole purpose of trying to help people because I am blessed with amazing family and my team around me, and even the golf world, from the Tour, players, caddies, to you guys, the love and support I’ve had has been amazing.”
Once taking his career for granted during a successful stretch from 2011 to 2019, he now cherishes every moment, driven by a desire to chase his dreams for his children and himself. His journey, documented in Netflix’s “Full Swing” Season 3, continues to inspire, with Woodland knocking on the door of competitive resurgence in 2025, boasting three top-22 finishes in four starts this year.
An emotional @GaryWoodland reflects on receiving the Courage Award ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kCyjsHQOLS
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 26, 2025
Grok 3.0 assisted with report.
