Gary Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, faced a major health scare but has made a remarkable comeback on the PGA Tour.

Health Challenges

In 2023, Woodland was diagnosed with a brain lesion causing fear, seizures, and appetite loss, leading to surgery in September to remove it. He returned to competition in early 2024, earning the PGA Tour Courage Award in 2025 for his resilience. Recently, he revealed a PTSD diagnosis from about a year ago, describing intense episodes like panic during rounds where he'd cry in the fairway or fear people approaching from behind.

"I feel like I'm dying. I feel like I'm living a lie. I don't want to waste energy hiding this." – Gary Woodland on his PTSD struggles

Recent Performance

As of late March 2026, Woodland surged to a three-shot lead at the Houston Open with a stunning 7-under 63 in the second round, fueled by birdie finishes and newfound putting confidence. This positions him for a potential first win since 2019 and entry into The Masters. He's also slated for the Valero Texas Open next week.

Key Timeline

  • April-May 2023 : Symptoms start; MRI reveals lesion.
  • September 2023 : Successful brain surgery.
  • January 2024 : PGA Tour return.
  • ~2025 : PTSD diagnosed; Courage Award received.
  • March 2026 : Publicly shares PTSD; leads Houston Open.

TL;DR : Woodland beat a brain lesion via surgery, battles ongoing PTSD, but is contending strongly again—including a Houston Open lead as of March 27, 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.