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Gary Woodland’s return to Augusta National Golf Club has added significance this year after his surprise victory at the Houston Open in March.
Woodland embraced the moment at Augusta National this week, reflecting on the tradition and importance 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 down a little slower this year than I ever have, even the first time I was here in 2011. I’m definitely taking it all in this week.”
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Gary Woodland hits balls on the driving range during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia on April 7, 2026. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)
However, Woodland also acknowledged that the crowds and tight quarters at Augusta National could trigger.
“It’s a big week for me this week,” he said. “The fans are very close to the tee boxes. There’s a lot going on. There’s probably not a 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 US Open in 2019, recently revealed that he has been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder for about a year. In 2023, he underwent a procedure to remove a benign brain lesion that was triggering seizures, anxiety and fear.
But even after surgery, Woodland’s symptoms persisted, leading to a PTSD diagnosis.
Gary Woodland hits from the bunker on the second hole during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 6, 2026. (Michael Madrid/Imagn Images)
Woodland, 41, spent part of his week at Augusta National meeting with security officials.
“The main deal is they showed me where the safety is,” Woodland said. “The whole deal for me is that it’s visual, right? If I can see somebody, then I can remind myself that I’m safe all the time. So I have a good idea now that safety is on every hole.”
Woodland described a recent tense stretch at the Houston Open two weeks ago when he was on high alert late in 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/Imagn Images)
“I struggled the last 10 holes and thought people were trying to kill me,” Woodland said. “I have security with me. But I talked to [PGA] Tour security that night and I told them what I was going through. Every time I looked up over the weekend, my security team was behind me.”
The win at last month’s tournament secured Woodland the final spot in the highly competitive Masters field.
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Months before undergoing surgery in 2023, Woodland finished 14th at that year’s Masters. He missed the cut at Augusta National in 2024 and also missed qualifying for last year’s Masters.
“I’m emotional from the standpoint of knowing how close I was to never being back here, and I’m very proud of myself for earning my way back,” Woodland noted. “People ask me, ‘How was the win?’ The one thing I know is having this brain tumor and having PTSD, it doesn’t matter if I win or lose. It doesn’t matter.”
