Known for his prodigious length off the tee and widely recognized as one of the most athletic and well-liked players on the PGA Tour, Gary Woodland is back.

Originally a collegiate basketball player at Washburn University, Woodland transferred to the University of Kansas to pursue golf, where he developed into one of the nation’s top amateur players. He turned professional in 2007 and steadily rose through the ranks to establish himself as a consistent presence on the PGA Tour.

Woodland’s career-defining moment came in 2019, when he captured his first major championship at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, defeating a world-class field and holding off Brooks Koepka with a memorable closing birdie on the 18th hole. The victory cemented his place among golf’s elite and remains one of the most iconic U.S. Open performances of the modern era.

Beyond his on-course achievements, Woodland has become a symbol of perseverance. In 2023, Woodland was diagnosed with a brain lesion, necessitating brain surgery to remove it. He received the Ben Hogan Award for Courage by the Golf Writers Association of America and was inducted into the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame.

Gary has continued to open up his mental health struggles including the fact that he’s suffering from PTSD. He made a highly emotional comeback by winning the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open, marking his fifth PGA Tour victory and one of the most inspiring returns in recent golf history.

Off the course, Woodland resides in Florida with his wife, Gabby, and their children. He is admired not only for his accomplishments but also for his honesty, humility, and advocacy for mental health awareness in professional sports.