By Pat Eastman
After coming out during a very emotional interview at The Players with Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard, Gary Woodland admitted he’s struggling with PTSD— post-traumatic stress disorder.
After a nice second round at Valspar Championship, the 2011 Transitions Champion, Woodland said, “I obviously got a lot of love and support after coming out of brain surgery and all that, but it was a lot more last week. I was maybe a little surprised by that. I think probably a lot of people could relate more to what I’m battling right now than they can relate to brain surgery, probably. But everyone’s been amazing out here. The family, the tour itself, the golf world, it’s been amazing.”
“I tell you what, I was nervous to come out. I’ve been, it’s something I battled now for over a year.”
Woodland recalled an incident that occurred at last year’s Procore Championship, in California, where he felt overwhelmed by symptoms while he was on the course.
“I was hypervigilant,” he said. “A walking scorer startled me, got close to me from behind. I pulled my caddie and said, ‘You can’t let anybody get behind me.’ Next thing you know, I couldn’t remember what I was doing. My eyesight started to get blurry.”
“[Next] it was my turn to hit and I couldn’t hit. Butch (caddie Brennan Little) said, ‘Let’s go in.’ I said, ‘No man, I’m here for these guys. I want to fight through this.”
“I went into every bathroom to cry the rest of the day. When I got done, I got in my car and got out of there. There are days when it’s tough – crying in the scoring trailer, running to my car just to hide it. I don’t want to live that way anymore.”
“I hope somebody that’s struggling sees me out here still fighting and battling and trying to live my dreams,” he said. “I’ve talked to veterans, and one thing I’ve heard from multiple people is you can’t do this on your own, no matter how strong you think you are.”
“I want to live my dreams and be successful out here,” Woodland said. “But I want to help people, too. I realize now I’ve got to help myself first – and hopefully this is the first step in doing that.”
“At the Players my caddie said it was the best he’s seen me since he can remember. I think just releasing it now. I can focus my energy on myself and what I need to do to be successful, instead of wasting my energy trying to hide something. It’s my reality, it’s what I’m battling, and we’ll get better, for sure.”
Everyone knowing Gary’s story was rooting for him to win again at Valspar on the Copperhead Course. Gary did have a very nice showing at the 2026 Valspar with his best finish of the year with T-14 at -5.
A Good Luck Charm
Gary did have a good luck charm at Copperhead. D.J. Gregory followed him every round. D.J. Gregory formed the Walking For Kids Foundation in 2009, which allows PGA TOUR Professionals and sports fans to support several children’s charities.
D.J. Gregory fell in love with golf at the age of twelve, when he first began watching the game on television and attending local tournaments with his dad. But unlike other golf fans, D.J. never dreamed of playing professionally, becoming a ranked amateur, or even a caddie. When D.J. was an infant, doctors told his parents that he would probably spend his life in a wheelchair because of cerebral palsy. But that didn’t keep D.J. from trying to beat the odds; he endured five surgeries and learned to walk with a cane.
Golf had always remained D.J.’s passion, and in 2008, he decided to make a dream come true—to travel the country and walk with a different player at each event on the PGA TOUR. That year he walked well over 988 miles and followed 3,256 holes on TOUR. Players, fans, and people from around the world took notice.
He now walks in the PGA Tour tournaments like this year’s Valspar with Gary Woodland.
Walking For Friends
D.J. Gregory’s journey consisted of: 29 falls. 332 sodas. 280 bottles of water. 259 sports drinks. 988 miles walked. 80,077 miles traveled. 3,256 holes walked. One dream. And enough stories to last a lifetime.
Pat Eastman
Clearwater, FL resident likes to walk 9 holes daily. Except on Friday, I work as Hospice volunteer. Enjoy my summers in Hyannis, MA.
Retired MA elementary school teacher. Starting in 1981 spent summers covering PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Champion Tour, Legends of the LPGA Tour, and USGA tournaments. Some of my favorite photos were of Sam Sneed, Jan Stephenson, Tiger Woods, and Kenny Perry.
