Gary Woodland says PTSD is an actual battle for him on the Masters this week

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Gary Woodland’s return to Augusta National Golf Club carries added significance this yr after he pulled off a shocking win on the Houston Open in March.

Woodland embraced the second at Augusta Nationwide this week, reflecting on the custom and significance of the Masters .

"I like this place," Woodland mentioned Tuesday. "I like the custom. There’s nothing like driving down Magnolia Lane. I positively drove down a bit slower this yr than I ever have, even the primary time I used to be right here in 2011. I’m positively taking all of it on this week for positive."

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Gary Woodland hits balls on the apply facility throughout a apply spherical for the Masters Event at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership in Augusta, Georgia, on April 7, 2026. (Invoice Streicher/Imagn Photos)

Nevertheless, Woodland additionally acknowledged that the crowds and shut quarters at Augusta Nationwide might be triggering.

"It is a large week for me this week," he mentioned. "The followers are very shut on the tee packing containers. There's loads happening. There's in all probability not a safer golf event on the earth, so I am completely happy for that. However it's nonetheless a battle in my head if I am protected or not. That is a troublesome capsule to swallow."

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Woodland, who gained the 2019 U.S. Open , lately revealed that he has battled post-traumatic stress dysfunction for roughly a yr. In 2023, he underwent a process to take away a benign mind lesion that triggered seizures, nervousness and concern.

However even after the surgical procedure, Woodland’s signs continued, resulting in a PTSD prognosis.

Gary Woodland hits out of the bunker on the second gap throughout a apply spherical for the Masters Event at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership in Augusta, Ga., on April 6, 2026. (Michael Madrid/Imagn Photos)

Woodland, 41, spent a part of his week at Augusta Nationwide assembly with safety officers.

"The principle deal is that they have been exhibiting me the place safety is," Woodland mentioned. "The entire deal for me is it is visible, proper? If I can see someone, then I can remind myself that I am protected continually. So, I've a good suggestion now the place safety is on each gap."

Woodland described a latest tense stretch on the Houston Open two weeks in the past, when he was on excessive alert late in his second spherical.

Gary Woodland chips onto the inexperienced on the eighth gap throughout the remaining spherical of the Texas Youngsters's Houston Open golf event in Houston, Texas, on March 29, 2026. (Erik Williams/Imagn Photos)

"I battled the final 10 holes pondering individuals have been making an attempt to kill me," Woodland mentioned. "I've safety with me. However I talked to [PGA] Tour safety that night time, and I informed them what I used to be going by way of. Each time I appeared up on the weekend, my safety workforce was behind me."

The victory eventually month’s event secured Woodland the final spot within the extremely aggressive Masters discipline.

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Months earlier than present process surgical procedure in 2023, Woodland completed tied for 14th at that yr’s Masters. He missed the lower at Augusta Nationwide in 2024 and in addition fell wanting qualifying for final yr’s Masters.

"I am emotional from the standpoint I understand how shut I in all probability was to by no means being again right here, and I am very pleased with myself for incomes my method again," Woodland famous. "Individuals ask me, 'How was the win?' The one factor I do know is having this mind tumor and having PTSD, it does not matter if I win or lose. It does not care."