Former US Open champion Gary Woodland recently secured his return to the Masters with a victory at the Houston Open.
However, during the final holes of that tournament, Woodland revealed he was battling intense feelings of "hypervigilance”, believing people were "trying to kill me."
This stark admission, shared by Woodland on Tuesday, is far from a joke. It represents a powerful disclosure of his ongoing mental health struggles, which he hopes will resonate with others grappling with trauma, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The profound internal turmoil Woodland experiences, even amidst the serene surroundings of Augusta National, stems from a brain lesion discovered in 2023. This lesion had been fueling unfounded fears of dying.
In September of that year, he penned heartfelt letters to his wife and children, anticipating the worst, before undergoing surgery to remove as much of the growth as possible.
The procedure, which involved creating a baseball-sized opening in the side of his head, was ultimately successful. Woodland returned to the golf course in January 2024, gradually regaining his form and making enough cuts to maintain his motivation.
His recent triumph at the Houston Open, where he closed with a final round 3-under 67 for a five-shot victory over Nicolai Hojgaard, followed a second-place finish at the same event the previous year. Few, however, were aware of the depth of his continued struggle.
Woodland had become crippled by PTSD, often retreating to bathrooms to weep, constantly feeling as though he was being targeted. A key symptom of PTSD is a heightened state of sensory sensitivity, which keeps the nervous system in a perpetual state of alert.
"I talked to (PGA) Tour security that night," Woodland recounted of the Friday at the Houston Open. "And I told them what I was going through, and every time I looked up on the weekend, my security team was behind me.
“Any time I got startled on the weekend, I turn around — last year I didn't talk to Tour security. I fought this on my own. It was awful."
He added: "Turning around and knowing I'm safe, having somebody there with me? It's the only reason I won two weeks ago."
While security played a crucial role, Woodland's golf game was also exceptional. His ball speed reached 196 mph on one tee shot, signaling the return of the strength that propelled him to his 2019 US Open victory.
His approach play was sublime, and his short game even better, as he finished 21 under par, securing his first win since his major championship and the fifth of his career.
"We live in a world, as men and especially as an athlete, that you put your head down and you fight through it. I’ve done it my whole life," Woodland explained. "This is honestly one battle that I’m not able to do on my own. I tried, and it wasn’t working."
Recognizing this, Woodland sought help, which he says has been immeasurably beneficial. Never one to focus solely on himself, he quickly realised his personal struggles could aid others.
This conviction led him to publicly disclose his PTSD diagnosis in an interview with the Golf Channel and to speak candidly at the Masters.
"The world we live in, speaking about something you would call a weakness is hard," he admitted, "but speaking about it and how I feel afterwards made me a lot stronger. I didn’t know that releasing this battle was going to make me stronger, and it’s done that.
“I feel a lot stronger now than I did three weeks ago, I can tell you that. No matter how hard it is out here, I know I have someone I can talk to that I can have security. My team have been amazing in helping me, but I’ve turned a weakness into a strength."
He concluded: "I wouldn’t even say it as a weakness, but I think that’s the stigma out there. But I feel a lot stronger after I came out for sure."
The Masters presents another significant test for Woodland, potentially an even tougher one.
His recent win will undoubtedly draw more attention, and the close proximity of patrons to players, particularly on the tees, can be challenging. The PGA Tour has collaborated with the Masters to ensure Woodland receives the necessary security to feel safe.
"There’s probably not a safer golf tournament in the world, so I’m happy for that, but it’s still a battle in my head if I’m safe or not," he confessed.
"I don’t have control when this thing hits me, and it’s tough. It can be a fan. It can be a walking score (board holder). It can be a camera guy running by me. Just any startlement from behind me can trigger this pretty quickly. Knowing where that security is is a constant reminder that I’m safe."
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you
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