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We’re one week closer to the Masters, and the Houston Open wrapped up with a star-studded leaderboard. Min Woo Lee finally had his breakthrough win, finishing one stroke above Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland. Also referred to as “The Chef” or “Dr. Chip-in-ski,” Min Woo has all of the talent in the world, with an average ball speed of 185-190 MPH and unbelievably soft hands around the greens. It is good to see him get over the mental hurdle of winning his first tour event, especially with Augusta National just on the horizon.
This wasn’t just a big week for “The Chef.” This was a big comeback for Gary Woodland. If you haven’t seen Woodland’s featured episode in Full-Swing Season 3, it is a must-watch. If you don’t want to watch it, I am going to give you the whole Gary Woodland story and explain why this week was so important for the 2019 U.S. Open winner.
Gary Woodland attended the University of Kansas and turned pro in 2007. Becoming a staple on the PGA Tour, winning 4 times, including a career-changing U.S. Open victory at Pebble Beach. For years, Woodland seemed to be coasting through his career, making cuts and earning a paycheck. All of that quickly changed in 2023 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
This lesion was located on the frontal lobe, specifically on a tract that causes overwhelming fear, stress, and anxiety. “I found myself consumed by fear almost constantly–fear of dying, fear of something awful happening to my children, fear of falling to my death. At the Memorial Tournament in June, I woke up one night and clung to my mattress for an hour, certain that if I let go, I’d fall.” If you thought that par 3 over water was scary, imagine playing golf with those constant thoughts going on in the back of your head.
Woodland underwent a successful surgery and returned to the PGA Tour at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January. “Last year was one of the hardest years of my life from the standpoint everything was new,” Woodland said at the Sony. “I was very thankful to be back in this seat last year, less than four months from surgery, but everything was new. It was like I was a rookie again. I didn’t know what to expect. There were days waking up, I didn’t know if I was going to feel good.” After 8 events, Gary has made 5 cuts, with four top-25 finishes, one top-10, and a runner-up finish this past week in Houston. Woodland was also the recipient of 2025 PGA Tour Courage Award for his incredible perseverance.
An emotional @GaryWoodland reflects on receiving the Courage Award ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kCyjsHQOLS
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 26, 2025
The Award came with $25,000 to contribute to a charity of his choice, and he chose Champion Charities, which conducts research and supports patients with brain tumors, trauma, or disease. Woodland decided to match the $25,000 donation, furthering his commitment to making a difference.
Gary Woodland’s perseverance through such a difficult chapter in his life is a testament to the kind of person he is. His story is incredibly inspiring and provides a new perspective into the lives of a PGA Tour player, reminding us that these athletes are human, too. They face the same everyday challenges as everybody else, and in Woodland’s case, his strength in overcoming such adversity is something we can all learn from.
