Former US Open champion Gary Woodland has courageously revealed he felt he was "living a lie" while concealing his post-traumatic stress disorder following life-saving brain surgery. The 41-year-old golfer underwent a critical operation in 2023 to remove a brain tumor, returning to professional competition the following year on the PGA Tour.
The Hidden Struggle
Woodland received a PTSD diagnosis approximately one year ago, though he continued competing while battling significant symptoms. He described experiencing hypervigilance, a common PTSD symptom, which manifested dramatically during tournament play. In one particularly distressing incident, Woodland was startled by an on-course scorer, resulting in blurred vision and uncontrollable tears that made completing his round extremely difficult.
Emotional Revelation
Speaking candidly to the Golf Channel, Woodland shared the emotional toll of his condition. "In an ideal world I'm probably not playing," he admitted. "But in an ideal world I don't have this. This is my dream." The golfer described days when his symptoms overwhelmed him, including crying in scoring trailers and rushing to his car to hide his distress from others.
"I don't want to live that way anymore," Woodland declared. "I can't waste energy any more hiding this and I'm blessed with a lot of support out here on the tour. I appreciate that love and support. But inside, I feel like I'm dying and I feel like I'm living a lie."
Timing and Context
Woodland's 2023 brain surgery occurred just months after his career-best Masters performance, where he achieved a joint-14th finish. The timing proved particularly challenging as he missed last year's Masters tournament when his five-year exemption from winning the 2019 US Open expired.
Looking Ahead
With this year's Masters tournament approaching in April, Woodland's revelation comes at a significant moment in the golf calendar. Defending champion Rory McIlroy will aim to retain his title after completing his career grand slam in dramatic fashion at Augusta National last year, defeating Justin Rose in a playoff.
While the final Masters field remains unconfirmed, golf legend Tiger Woods has hinted at a potential comeback after sitting out the entire 2025 season due to ongoing fitness concerns. Woodland's openness about his mental health journey adds an important dimension to the conversation around athlete wellbeing as the golf world prepares for one of its premier events.
