Who is everyone's favorite at the Masters? It could be Gary Woodland
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Gary Woodland sees a girl wearing a white bucket hat, but only sees blue pant legs. It is possible.
He is only a few years old, only a few feet tall and very scared, so my mother had pushed him when other boys and girls were staring at Woodland, wanting an autograph, a picture or all of the above. However, no one goes without ink or a smile.
Even the girl in the white bucket hat. Woodland looks down. He's just there, just looking at the iron fence green in front of him on Augusta National's practice putting green, and Woodland laughs, then everyone laughs.
He's always been the favorite, and he's probably the favorite this week at the Masters, at least based on what's picking up wherever Woodland goes at the ANGC. Benefits are included. In the distance, Scottie Scheffler touches him in the stomach. Chris Gotterup claps his hand. Matt McCarty, too. Woodland hugged JJ Spaun, last week's PGA Tour winner. Two weeks ago, Woodland won. Four weeks ago, in an interview with the Golf Channel, he agreed. In 2023, he had a procedure to remove part of the lesion that was found in the part of his brain that controls fear, but he was still fighting. He was now diagnosed with PTSD. He will have to be homeless from time to time, especially when things get really bad.
Everyone is hooked, which Woodland said surprised him, even though a reception like this is why everyone came to him in the first place.
“It's probably the first thing I've done for myself,” Woodland said. “I did it because I was really struggling, I was struggling to say no, I don't like to say no, I like to help people, I like to do everything I can.
“I am in a period where it is difficult for me to do for many weeks, I need to refuse, the doctors push me and push me. [that] I can't do everything I used to do from a strength standpoint. When I say no, I feel nervous. I see disappointment in people's eyes. And guys, maybe it's time to get out because now people will know why you refused. “
For him, he felt strong, which he did not expect.
He believed in avoiding opening up, but doing so gave him strength. You can see that in his golf, though the latest 190 mph-plus ball speed came with coach Randy Smith. (“I've been telling the guys I think I'm upset that I have to fight this thing in my head,” Woodland said.) Teammate Justin Thomas has also told him he seems more relaxed, but Woodland believes that's mostly due to his conditioning, which is interesting. “The doctors and everyone I work with have been trying to slow down my heart rate, they've been trying to slow down my thoughts just so I can work and be healthy. But doing those things helps my golf game,” he said. “I wish I had known more of this 20 years ago.” The presence of security has also helped Woodland, who is always vulnerable to movement or noise. “It could be a fan. It could be pedestrian points. It could be a camera guy running next to me, any panic coming from behind me could cause this quickly,” Woodland said. “Knowing where the safe is is a constant reminder that I'm safe.”
However, his golf has given him purpose in others, he said.
Like a follower of a green habit who said quietly, he said to guide him: “Gary, we have your back.” That got a thumbs up.
Like the girl in the white bucket hat, too.
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“When I was diagnosed with a brain tumor three years ago, I thought I was not going to let this thing go,” Woodland said. “I have wanted to be a professional athlete since I was young, and I will do everything in my power to live that childhood dream of mine.
“Golf has given me something more to strive for than just me and my family. I love being out there. I love the boys. I love to compete. And the thought of losing that is hard.”
On Tuesday, at a pre-Masters press conference, Woodland was at times in tears. He said he was thinking that it was almost time for him to return to the Masters and he said he was proud to be back. He said Augusta National will be an incentive, saying he will still have “a battle in my head if I'm safe or not. It's a tough pill to swallow.”
But each day here will be appreciated, he said.
That might appeal to people.
“I have to worry today,” Woodland said. “That's a big deal. I love this place. I love the culture. There's nothing like driving down Magnolia Lane. I've been down a little bit more this year than I've ever been, even when I first came here in 2011.
“I'll definitely take it all in this week, definitely.”
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