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Gary Woodland’s return to Augusta National Golf Club has added significance this year after he scored a stunning victory at the Houston Open in March.
Woodland seized the moment at Augusta National this week, reflecting on the tradition and meaning of the Masters.
“I love this place,” Woodland said Tuesday. “I love the tradition. There’s nothing like driving down Magnolia Lane. I definitely drove a little slower this year than ever before, even the first time I was here in 2011. I’ll definitely take advantage of it all this week.”
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Gary Woodland hits balls at the practice facility during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 7, 2026. (Bill Streicher/Image Images)
However, Woodland also acknowledged that the crowds and close quarters at Augusta National could be the trigger.
“This week is a big week for me,” he said. “The fans are very close to the tee boxes. There’s a lot going on. There’s probably no safer golf tournament in the world, so I’m happy about that. But it’s still a battle in my head whether I’m safe or not. It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
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Woodland, who won the 2019 US Open, recently revealed that he has battled post-traumatic stress disorder for about a year. In 2023, he underwent a procedure to remove a benign brain lesion that was causing seizures, anxiety and fear.
But even after surgery, Woodland’s symptoms persisted, leading to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Gary Woodland tees off from the bunker on the second hole during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 6, 2026. (Michael Madrid/Image Images)
Woodland, 41, spent part of his week at Augusta National meeting with security officials.
“The main thing is they were showing me where the safety is,” Woodland said. “For me, everything is visual, right? If I can see someone, then I can remind myself that I’m safe constantly. So now I have a good idea of where safety is on each hole.”
Woodland described a recent tense stretch at the Houston Open two weeks ago, when he was on high alert at the end of his second round.
Gary Woodland hits the green on the eighth hole during the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open golf tournament in Houston, Texas, on March 29, 2026. (Erik Williams/Image Images)
“I struggled the last 10 holes thinking people were trying to kill me,” Woodland said. “I have security with me. But I spoke with [PGA] I visited security that night and told them what I was going through. Every time I looked up over the weekend, my security team was right behind me.”
Victory in last month’s tournament assured Woodland of the final spot in the highly competitive Masters field.
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Months before undergoing surgery in 2023, Woodland finished in a tie for 14th at that year’s Masters. He missed the cut at Augusta National in 2024 and also failed to qualify for last year’s Masters.
“I’m excited from the standpoint of knowing how close I probably came to never coming back here again, and I’m really proud of myself for earning my way back,” Woodland said. “People ask me: ‘How was the victory?’ All I know is that I have this brain tumor and PTSD, it doesn’t matter if I win or lose. “He doesn’t care.”
