Gary Woodland plays ‘best round all year,’ has blast with “T-Dub” Tiger Woods

For the past year or so, Gary Woodland has been in and out of hell.

He underwent surgery in September to remove a lesion that doctors found on his brain. A few months ago, he feared for his life and could barely concentrate. The headaches made his life miserable and he suffered from anxiety.

Since his surgery, Woodland has worked tirelessly to rebuild his golf swing and get back to competing with golf’s elite. Rotating his body properly was also part of the process.

Knowing this, Tiger Woods, one of his best friends on the PGA Tour, invited Gary Woodland to this week’s Genesis Invitational, a tournament hosted by Woods.

He made the most of his opportunity, shooting a 1-under 70 at Riviera Country Club, one of the most difficult courses on the PGA Tour. He played alongside Woods and Justin Thomas.

“That was the best play I’ve played all year. Even my caddy said that after it was over,” Woodland said.

“When you play for T-Dub, you have to focus on yourself. You can’t get too distracted. I think I was probably a little distracted earlier this year. The fans, you guys are really rooting for me. Maybe I accepted it a little too much. Today I fell in love with myself and my game and was very happy with the result.”

Woodland got off to a great start, birdied his first three holes and quickly moved to 3 under through three holes.

Fucking bogey Tough par 3 4th He got back to 1 under on the 6th par 3, but quickly recovered with a birdie on the tricky 7th par 4.

He took an eagle on the par-5 11th, but it was quickly canceled out with a double bogey on the 12th. He then three-putted for bogey on the par-5 17th hole.

“I haven’t played well for a long time, so I started to see some things and I feel like it’s proving to me that I’m doing the right thing and I’m going in the right direction,” Woodland said. explained.

“I’m glad I made some putts. Other than the 3-putt on No. 17 and the double on No. 12, I played great, so I have a lot to build on.”

Considering the situation Woodland was in a few weeks ago, it’s an extraordinary sight to see him have so much success at Riviera.

“I had a rough week off after coming home from Torrey Pines. I just wasn’t there and it didn’t feel like I was back, so it’s frustrating,” Woodland said. said.

Photo by Ben Jared/PGA Tour via Getty Images

“My team started talking a lot and we communicated when we found something. Our caddies were great and we let them go home and we spent a few hours in a dark room. We missed the cut. We stayed there, but he forced me to take a day off. It’s hard for me. I want to go out and work. I need to monitor it a little bit. But it’s frustrating…

“But today was a big step in the right direction for me.”

Woodland has yet to qualify for 2024, which clearly frustrates the former US Open champion. But that doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.

What matters is his health, and Woodland finds himself still feeling the effects of his brain injury.

“[When I don’t] Feel like yourself, [I am] Very irritable, grumpy, and really so much more than that,” Woodland explained.

“If that happens, you have to go into a dark room. It’s concussion protocol first and foremost. Turn off the lights, don’t make noise, don’t overstimulate… So, that’s all that happened today. I was so happy and content to be able to stay there. Like I said, it was definitely the best day of the year.”

Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.