HOUSTON — Gary Woodland feels like a 1,000-pound weight was lifted from his shoulders.
Two weeks ago at the Players Championship, Woodland had an emotional reveal: he has dealt with PTSD since having brain surgery. He talked openly about the fear and anxiety he deals with in an interview with Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard. Woodland decided to talk openly about it because he felt as if he was hiding it, but he also wanted to get it off his chest.
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Seventeen days later, that decision is paying off.
“It was hard to do,” Woodland said. “I have a battle that I’m fighting, but it’s nice to not do that alone, I can tell you that. We’ll take it one day at a time and continue to get better. But the Tour out here is a family and they’ve been amazing. The golf world’s been amazing and I’m very thankful.”
The four-time PGA Tour winner and 2019 U.S. Open champion missed the cut at TPC Sawgrass, but last week at the Valspar Championship, he said he gained a lot of confidence. And this week, he made an equipment change that has him in contention at the Texas Children’s Houston Open once again.
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A year after an incredible closing 62 to tie for second, Woodland opened in 6-under 64, birdieing three of his final four holes Thursday, and is a shot behind Paul Waring after the opening round at Memorial Park. And a big reason for that is changing back to the shafts Woodland used when he won the U.S. Open.
“I just haven’t hit it very well this year, iron play, driver’s been great,” Woodland said. “I’ve been tinkering a little bit. My speed is definitely back to where it’s been. The last couple years it was down and it’s back now. I switched back to an old iron shaft that I played forever and it tightened everything up. My misses were better today. It felt comfortable out there. That was really nice.”
Woodland’s swing coach, Randy Smith, was a big reason for switching back to his old shafts. Woodland said Smith called him soft, saying Woodland needed to get back to his old ways of trying to hit the golf ball as hard as he could.
In recent months, as Woodland’s swing speed has rebounded, his equipment hasn’t kept up. But this week, it’s performing like Woodland wants, and the results have him right in the mix yet again in Houston.
Gary Woodland of the United States reacts after making birdie on the third green during the first round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open 2026 at Memorial Park Golf Course on March 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
“It’s been a process to get there, but we’re starting to swing at it again like I used to, I think,” Woodland said. “Definitely comes with some confidence.”
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Woodland was stellar off the tee, approaching the green and putting in the opening round, a culmination of confidence Woodland hasn’t had in a couple years and equipment allowing him to swing freely.
It also helps he’s not shouldering the load of what he’s going through anymore. After getting a taste of being in contention last year at Memorial Park, Woodland is hoping to recreate those feelings – and then some – this weekend.
“I hadn’t been in that position in a long time,” Woodland said. “The fans were great last year, I remember that. I put a very nice round in there on Sunday. But the golf course sets up very well for me. Allows me to be aggressive, to play to my strengths right now. I’m looking forward to getting out there again tomorrow.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Gary Woodland finds confidence after PTSD reveal, iron shaft change
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