"Every week I come out and everyone is so excited and happy that I'm back. I hear that every week: 'It's so nice to see you passed this. It's so nice to see you 100%.' And I appreciate that love and support, but inside I feel like I'm dying. I feel like I'm living a lie. And I don't want to waste energy on that anymore. I want to focus my energy on me and my recovery, my dreams out here, my family."
"I stepped aside, I pulled my caddie and said, 'This stuff is hitting me, man. 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. And a hole later, I just said, 'Butch, I can't handle it.' And I start bawling in the middle of the fairway."
Gary Woodland, a former U.S. Open champion, underwent brain surgery in September 2023 to address a lesion pressing on his brain. While the procedure stopped his seizures and he returned to the PGA Tour in 2024, he subsequently developed PTSD symptoms and received a diagnosis approximately one year ago. Despite external perceptions of his full recovery, Woodland experienced significant internal distress. He publicly revealed his diagnosis because he felt exhausted hiding his condition while receiving congratulations weekly. During a tournament in fall, a startling incident triggered severe symptoms including memory loss, blurred vision, and emotional breakdown, prompting him to seek support and redirect his energy toward genuine recovery rather than maintaining appearances.
#ptsd-and-mental-health #professional-golf #brain-surgery-recovery #athlete-wellness #public-disclosure
Read at ESPN.com
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