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Woodland receives PGA Tour Courage Award after return from brain surgery

Woodland receives PGA Tour Courage Award after return from brain surgery

Reuters26-02-2025

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland has been named the recipient of the PGA Tour Courage Award on Wednesday for his return to full-time competition on the U.S.-based circuit following brain surgery in 2023.
Woodland started experiencing symptoms in May 2023 and testing revealed a brain lesion pressing on the part of the brain that controlled fear and anxiety.
As his symptoms worsened, Woodland elected to undergo a craniotomy in September 2023 where doctors removed a majority of the tumor, confirmed it was benign and cut off the blood supply to prevent future growth.
Woodland returned to competition in January 2024 and went on to record three top-25 finishes in 26 starts during the 2024 PGA Tour season, highlighted by a share of ninth place at last October's Shriners Children's Open in Las Vegas.
The 40-year-old Woodland was presented with the award by PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan ahead of his start in this week's Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
"It's everything to me because -- sorry," an emotional Woodland, whose eyes welled with tears, said before taking a moment to compose himself. "It's been a hard journey for me. The last couple of years has been really hard.
"Receiving this is a testament to the people around me because there's no way, one, I'd be back playing or no way I'd be sitting here today if it wasn't for them."
The Courage Award is not presented annually by the PGA Tour but reserved for individuals who overcome adversity, such as personal tragedy or debilitating injury or illness, to make a significant and meaningful contribution to the game of golf.
Woodland is the seventh recipient of the award, which was established in 2012, joining Erik Compton (2013), Jarrod Lyle (2015), Gene Sauers (2017), Morgan Hoffmann (2020), D.J. Gregory (2022) and Chris Kirk (2023).
"He's overcome so many challenges which is nothing short of miraculous," said Monahan. "He continues to manage symptoms associated with his initial diagnosis while competing, and competing very well, at the highest level of professional golf.
"Gary Woodland is a constant inspiration to us all. He's an inspiration to his family, he's an inspiration to his friends, he's an inspiration to his peers. In that regard I'd say it's hard to find a player on the PGA Tour that's more admired and more respected."

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Three killer holes at Oakmont including one that cost Tiger Woods a US Open as Rory McIlroy and Co face savage test
Three killer holes at Oakmont including one that cost Tiger Woods a US Open as Rory McIlroy and Co face savage test

Scottish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Three killer holes at Oakmont including one that cost Tiger Woods a US Open as Rory McIlroy and Co face savage test

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WELCOME to the torture chamber hosting the world's top stars for the next four days, as the US Open comes to Oakmont for a record tenth time. Some holes are as notorious as the players are famous, with hot favourite Scottie Scheffler calling it 'probably the hardest golf course that we'll play - maybe ever". 11 English ace Justin Rose gets down to business in practice Credit: Alamy 11 Scottie Scheffler is the favourite after three wins in four tournaments Credit: Alamy 11 Bryson DeChambeau asked for patience as he signed autographs Credit: Reuters 11 It's three and far from easy for players at Oakmont this week Back in 2007 legend Tiger Woods took one look at the notorious Church Pew bunker that splits the third and fourth fairways - a 100 yard long stretch of sand featuring 12 three foot high grass ridges - and decided he wanted nothing to do with it. However, reigning champion Bryson DeChambeau will hope to find big-hitting answers. And world no.2 Rory McIlroy aims to build on his maiden Masters triumph. But here's a look at three of the toughest holes any golfer could face - plus the verdict of players on the ominous Oakmont course. Hole 3 (par 4 - 462 yards) THIS difficult par-four provides the first sight of the massive Church Pews bunker down the left-hand side of the fairway. And if you steer too far wide of it, there is a row of deep bunkers down the right waiting to gobble up balls. Rated as one of the toughest holes on the course — just ask Tiger Woods. 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Scheffler's "hardest ever" verdict on the course is more than matched by the assessment of fellow superstar players. Double UPSGA champ Justin Thomas says 'you can look stupid pretty fast' at the US Open venue, and reckons it will 'psyche a lot of guys out before they hit a shot'. But another double Major winner, Xander Schauffele - regarded as a robot at churning out great US rounds after finishing inside the top 15 in all eight attempts - confessed: 'Maybe I'm just sick to enjoy the challenge." 11 DeChambeau watches his practice putt on the 14th green Credit: Getty 11 Scheffler putts on the same hole on the tournament eve Credit: Shutterstock Editorial But is all the talk about this 7,531 yards par 70 being the toughest course on the planet justified? In the words of Dustin Johnson, who won here in 2016: 'Hell, yeah!' Johnson finished four under par nine years ago, on a course playing much easier than usual, because so much rain fell it was nicknamed 'Soakmont'. 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He said: 'Being perfectly honest, and very selfish, I hope it psyches a lot of players out. This course requires tons of patience and discipline, and not everyone can get a handle on that. 'Above all else, Oakmont tests the mental aspect of your game. But with tight fairways, deep rough, difficult bunkers and lightning fast greens it also tests you to the limit technically too. 'If you just get lazy - like on any drive, any wedge shot, any chip, any putt - you can look stupid pretty fast. 'But I understand this place is hard. I don't need to read articles, or I don't need to hear horror stories. I've played it. I know it's difficult." So sit back and enjoy the ride. It is going to be a bumpy one. 11 Collin Morikawa took a snap of Gary Woodland's club Credit: Reuters

USGA commissioner on golf ball rollback: ‘We're full speed ahead'
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Reuters

time4 hours ago

  • Reuters

USGA commissioner on golf ball rollback: ‘We're full speed ahead'

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‘Greatest shot in the history of golf' – World No284 unlocks secret of Oakmont with insane 122-yard PUTT before US Open
‘Greatest shot in the history of golf' – World No284 unlocks secret of Oakmont with insane 122-yard PUTT before US Open

Scottish Sun

time5 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

‘Greatest shot in the history of golf' – World No284 unlocks secret of Oakmont with insane 122-yard PUTT before US Open

GOLF star Zac Blair has come up with a genius plan to tackle the "hardest course in the world". The US Open gets underway at Oakmont Country Club, Pennsylvania tomorrow. 6 Zac Blair has unlocked an Oakmont hack Credit: @AndyTFE 6 Fans have called it the 'best shot in history' Credit: @AndyTFE 6 He putted straight onto the green from 122 yards Credit: @AndyTFE Build-up to the third major of the year has been dominated by concerns from top players over the conditions of the course. The sloped greens have been called "lightening quick" and the incredibly thick rough stands at five inches tall. But Blair has a method to get around the problem on hole one. The world No284 took to the course for a practice round today and pulled out his putter 122 yards away from the hole. He gave the ball a firm whack and it rolled all the way down the steep fairway and onto the green, stopping in a perfect position. Fans were left stunned, with one saying: "No exaggeration, that might have been the greatest shot in the history of golf." Another added: "This is the play." A third commented: "That's elite." BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 6 Blair, 34, who hails from Salt Lake City, has never won a PGA Tour title. Several of his rivals have voiced concerns over the course, with world No1 Scottie Scheffler branding the venue the "hardest course in the world". DeChambeau and Rose's response to how club golfers would cope at Oakmont US Open course Two-time US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau said: "This course doesn't just challenge your game, it challenges your sanity." Former major champion Jordan Spieth added: "This course is built to be like this. "You hit a good shot, you get rewarded for it here. And if you don't, you're in big trouble. It's pure golf, no funny business about it.' 6 Thick rough is set to give players a nightmare Credit: EPA

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