Former US Open champion Gary Woodland has said he “can’t waste energy any more” hiding his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder after undergoing brain surgery in 2023.
Woodland, who won the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2019, had an operation to remove a brain tumour in September 2023.
The American returned to the PGA Tour at the start of 2024 and has played regularly since, but has revealed he was diagnosed with PTSD about a year ago.
“I can’t waste energy any more hiding this, and I’m blessed with a lot of support out here on the Tour,” Woodland told the Golf Channel.
“I appreciate that love and support. But inside, I feel like I’m dying and I feel like I’m living a lie.”
The 41-year-old received the PGA Tour Courage Award in 2025 in recognition of his return to the sport following his surgery, but his return has been far from easy.
Woodland recalled an incident at the Procore Championship in California last year when symptoms overwhelmed him on the course.
“A walking scorer startled me, got close to me from behind. I pulled my caddie and said, ‘You can’t let anybody get behind me’,” Woodland explained.
“Next thing you know, I couldn’t remember what I was doing. My eyesight started to get blurry.”
Woodland said he decided to keep playing, against the advice of his caddie, because he was competing alongside two members of the US Ryder Cup team, for which he was about to serve as a vice captain.
“I went into every bathroom to cry the rest of the day. When I got done, I got in my car and got out of there,” he added.
“There are days when it’s tough – crying in the scoring trailer, running to my car just to hide it. I don’t want to live that way any more.”
Woodland said he has discussed his mental-health struggles with veterans and he is hopeful his return to golf can inspire others.
“I hope somebody that’s struggling sees me out here still fighting and battling and trying to live my dreams,” he said.
“I want to help people, too. I realise now I’ve got to help myself first and hopefully this is the first step in doing that.”