Gary Woodland, who underwent surgery in September 2023 to remove a benign brain tumor, is the recipient of the PGA Tour Courage Award.
Woodland, 40, is playing full-time as he continues to manage what the tour called the “physical, emotional and mental” effects of the condition. He is competing this week at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches in Florida.
With his eyes welling up with tears, an emotional Woodland shared just how much the award meant to him with reporters on Wednesday.
“It’s everything to me because … it’s been a hard journey for me, the last couple years have been really hard,” he said. “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 playing if it wasn’t for them. It means everything for me to receive it but, it really belongs to 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 — I mean from the tour, players, caddies to (the media), the love and support that I’ve had is amazing. And it pains me to think that somebody’s out there going through something and doesn’t have that much support. Hopefully they can see me or see my story and realize that I battle it every day too.”
An emotional @GaryWoodland reflects on receiving the Courage Award ?? pic.twitter.com/kCyjsHQOLS
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 26, 2025
Medical tests in May 2023 showed Woodland had a lesion pressing on his brain. He underwent a craniotomy that September, and doctors removed most of the tumor and cut off blood supply to prevent future growth.
“Gary’s journey has been well documented and the fact that he has overcome so many challenges associated with his initial diagnosis is nothing short of miraculous,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a news release. “We are so proud to honor him with the PGA Tour Courage Award recognizing his relentless spirit and his willingness to share his story and inspire others.”
Woodland is a four-time PGA Tour winner and won the 2019 U.S. Open. He returned to play in January 2024 and had three top-25s in 26 starts, including a T9 at the Shriners Children’s Open last season.
In 2024, he has three top-25 finishes in four starts.
As part of the award, Woodland received $25,000 to contribute to a charity of his choice. He has earmarked the money for Champion Charities, which conducts research and supports patients with brain tumors, trauma or disease. Woodland and his wife, Gabby, said they would match the donation.
–Field Level Media
