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Gary Woodland’s return to Augusta National Golf Club takes on added significance this year after scoring a surprising victory at the Houston Open in March.
Woodland enjoyed the moment at Augusta National this week, reflecting on the tradition and importance of the Masters.
“I love this place,” Woodland said Tuesday. “I love the tradition. There’s nothing like riding Magnolia Lane. I’ve definitely been riding a little slower this year than ever, even the first time I was here in 2011. I’ll definitely take it all in this week, that’s for sure.”
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Gary Woodland hits balls at the practice facility during a practice round for the Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 7, 2026. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)
However, Woodland also acknowledged that the crowds and close combat at Augusta National could be a trigger.
“This week is a big week for me,” he said. “The fans are very close on the tees. There’s a lot going on. There’s probably no safer golf tournament in the world, so I’m happy about that. But it’s always a battle in my head whether I’m safe or not. It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
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Woodland, who won the 2019 US Open, recently revealed that he has been battling post-traumatic stress disorder for about a year. In 2023, he underwent a procedure to remove a benign brain injury that triggered seizures, anxiety and fear.
But even after surgery, Woodland’s symptoms persisted, leading to a diagnosis of PTSD.
Gary Woodland hits out of the bunker on the second hole during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 6, 2026. (Michael Madrid/Imagn Images)
Woodland, 41, spent part of his week at Augusta National meeting with security officials.
“The main thing was they were showing me where the safety is,” Woodland said. “For me it’s visual, right? If I can see someone, then I can remind myself that I’m safe all the time. So I have a good idea now of where safety is in each hole.”
Woodland described a recent tense period at the Houston Open two weeks ago, when he was on alert late in his second round.
Gary Woodland hits the green on the eighth hole during the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open golf tournament in Houston, Texas on March 29, 2026. (Erik Williams/Imagn Images)
“I played the last 10 holes thinking people were trying to kill me,” Woodland said. “I have security with me. But I spoke to [PGA] Tour security that night, and I told them what I was experiencing. Every time I looked up on the weekend, my security team was behind me. »
The victory at last month’s tournament secured Woodland’s final spot in the highly competitive Masters field.
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Months before undergoing surgery in 2023, Woodland finished tied for 14th in that year’s Masters. He missed the cut at Augusta National in 2024 and also failed to qualify for last year’s Masters.
“I’m emotional because I know how close I was probably to never coming back here, and I’m very proud of myself for finding my way back,” Woodland noted. “People ask me, ‘How was the victory?’ The only thing I know is that I have this brain tumor and I have PTSD. It doesn’t matter if I win or lose. It doesn’t care.”
