Latest news with #PGATourCourageAward
USA Today
28-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
After brain surgery, Gary Woodland named recipient of PGA Tour's Courage Award
After brain surgery, Gary Woodland named recipient of PGA Tour's Courage Award Show Caption Hide Caption PGA Tour announces Gary Woodland as Courage Award recipient Gary Woodland gets emotional discussing being the recipient of the PGA Tour's Courage Award. Golfer Gary Woodland was awarded the PGA Tour's Courage Award for his perseverance after undergoing brain surgery in 2023. Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, returned to professional golf in January 2024 after having a brain lesion removed. The PGA Tour Courage Award honors a golfer who has overcome adversity to contribute to the sport. Gary Woodland was named the recipient of the PGA Tour's Courage Award on Wednesday. Woodland, 40, underwent brain surgery in Sept. 2023 to remove a brain lesion and continues to manage symptoms as he competes on the PGA Tour. Woodland won the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and is a four-time PGA Tour winner. The PGA Tour Courage Award is presented to a person who, through courage and perseverance, has overcome extraordinary 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 PGA Tour Courage 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). Woodland formally received the award during a presentation Wednesday at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, and he was surprised Wednesday morning in an exclusive interview with Michael Strahan on ABC's "Good Morning America." 'Gary's journey has been well documented, and the fact that he has overcome so many challenges associated with his initial diagnosis is nothing short of miraculous,' PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a release. 'We are so proud to honor him with the PGA Tour Courage Award recognizing his relentless spirit and his willingness to share his story and inspire others.' The Courage Award includes a contribution of $25,000 from the Tour to a charity of the award recipient's choice. Woodland chose Champion Charities, an organization dedicated to research and patient support in the following areas: brain tumor, brain disease and brain trauma. Woodland and his wife, Gabby, will match the donation, with $50,000 going to Champion Charities. Woodland, a native of Topeka, Kansas, turned pro in 2007 after graduating from the University of Kansas. He joined the PGA Tour in 2009. Woodland has represented the U.S. at the 2019 Presidents Cup. He was an all-state high school basketball player in Kansas and started his collegiate career on a basketball scholarship at Division II Washburn University before transferring to Kansas to compete on the men's golf team. Woodland first experienced symptoms in May 2023, then he underwent testing that revealed a brain lesion pressing on the part of the brain that controlled fear and anxiety. As symptoms worsened and medication didn't help, Woodland underwent a craniotomy on Sept. 19, 2023. During surgery, doctors were able to remove a majority of the tumor, confirm it was benign and cut off the blood supply to prevent future growth. Woodland returned to competition in Jan. 2024 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He recorded three top-25s in 26 starts in 2024, his best finish being T-9 at the Shriners Children's Open, his first top-10 since his initial diagnosis. Woodland continues to manage physical, emotional and mental symptoms as recovery progresses. Netflix's Full Swing Season 3 features Woodland in Episode 6 and documents his recovery process from surgery and some of the challenges and struggles he faced.
NBC Sports
27-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Gary Woodland receives PGA Tour Courage Award after return from brain surgery
Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner discuss the controversy around players -- specifically Jordan Spieth -- receiving sponsor exemptions to compete in PGA Tour events. PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland was honored Wednesday with the PGA Tour Courage Award as he comes back from brain surgery to remove a lesion that was causing him to have unfounded thoughts that he was dying. Woodland, who won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach to go along with three other PGA Tour titles, had a hole the size of a baseball removed from his head so doctors could remove the lesion in a September 2023 surgery. He returned last year and continues to make strides toward restoring his game and his life at home with wife Gabby and his three children. '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,' Woodland said at PGA National, where he is playing the Cognizant Classic. 'It means everything for me to receive it, but it really belongs to the people around me.' The Courage Award is presented to a person who overcomes extraordinary adversity, such as personal tragedy or debilitating injury or illness, to make a significant and meaningful contribution to golf. Chris Kirk was honored last year for his battle with alcoholism. Previous winners include Jarrod Lyle of Australia, who died after a long battle with leukemia, and two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan presented Woodland with the award at PGA National. 'He's overcome so many challenges, which is nothing short of miraculous,' Monahan said. '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.' The Courage Award includes a contribution of $25,000 from the Tour to a charity of the recipient's choice. Woodland selected Champion Charities — he and his wife are matching the donation - an organization dedicated to research and patient support in brain tumor, brain disease and brain trauma. Woodland said he learned of the organization from former San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Harris Barton, his partner in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this year. Both of Barton's parents died from brain tumors. Woodland had one top-10 last year when he returned. This is the final year of his exemption from winning the U.S. Open. 'At the end of the day, I'm fighting,' he said. 'The last thing I'm going to let this do is let this thing in my head stop my dreams, and that's why I fight every day. I want to be there for my kids and my family, but I want to chase my dreams, too. I've got a lot of dreams out here. 'I'm starting to understand what I need to do every day to function in life, but the things I'm doing to help with my brain are also helping me play golf, and I'm knocking on the door. It's coming, and I'm going to keep knocking on that door until I bust through.'
Associated Press
26-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Gary Woodland receives PGA Tour Courage Award as he returns from brain surgery
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland was honored Wednesday with the PGA Tour Courage Award as he comes back from brain surgery to remove a lesion that was causing him to have unfounded thoughts that he was dying. Woodland, who won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach to go along with three other PGA Tour titles, had a hole the size of a baseball removed from his head so doctors could remove the lesion in a September 2023 surgery. He returned last year and continues to make strides toward restoring his game and his life at home with wife Gabby and his three children. '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,' Woodland said at PGA National, where he is playing the Cognizant Classic. 'It means everything for me to receive it, but it really belongs to the people around me.' The Courage Award is presented to a person who overcomes extraordinary adversity, such as personal tragedy or debilitating injury or illness, to make a significant and meaningful contribution to golf. Chris Kirk was honored last year for his battle with alcoholism. Previous winners include Jarrod Lyle of Australia, who died after a long battle with leukemia, and two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan presented Woodland with the award at PGA National. 'He's overcome so many challenges, which is nothing short of miraculous,' Monahan said. '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.' The Courage Award includes a contribution of $25,000 from the tour to a charity of the recipient's choice. Woodland selected Champion Charities — he and his wife are matching the donation — an organization dedicated to research and patient support in brain tumor, brain disease and brain trauma. Woodland said he learned of the organization from former San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Harris Barton, his partner in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this year. Both of Barton's parents died from brain tumors. Woodland had one top 10 last year when he returned. This is the final year of his exemption from winning the U.S. Open. 'At the end of the day, I'm fighting,' he said. 'The last thing I'm going to let this do is let this thing in my head stop my dreams, and that's why I fight every day. I want to be there for my kids and my family, but I want to chase my dreams, too. I've got a lot of dreams out here. 'I'm starting to understand what I need to do every day to function in life, but the things I'm doing to help with my brain are also helping me play golf, and I'm knocking on the door. It's coming, and I'm going to keep knocking on that door until I bust through.'
Reuters
26-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Woodland receives PGA Tour Courage Award after return from brain surgery
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."
