Gary Woodland is an American golfer from Topeka, Kansas, ranked 47th in the world, with four PGA Tour victories including the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. He held off Brooks Koepka, the defending champion, on Sunday to win his first major championship, a performance defined by one of the most memorable approach shots in U.S. Open history: a 3-wood from 263 yards on the par-5 14th hole that set up a birdie and broke the tournament open.
Before golf, Woodland was a basketball player at Washburn University in Topeka, and that athletic background shows in his game. He is one of the longer hitters on the PGA Tour, generating clubhead speed that most players his age cannot match. His power game made him a consistent contender throughout his career, but it was the refinement of his short game, particularly under major championship pressure, that elevated him to a U.S. Open champion. His putting on Pebble Beach’s poa annua greens during that 2019 final round was some of the best of his career.
Woodland’s story took a difficult turn in 2023 when he underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, a procedure that threatened his career and his health. His return to professional golf after the surgery has been one of the more remarkable comebacks in recent Tour history. The recovery was slow and uncertain, requiring patience and a willingness to rebuild aspects of his game that the surgery had disrupted. That he is competing at the highest level again speaks to both his physical resilience and his determination to continue doing what he has done since he chose golf over basketball.
In 2026, Woodland brings the perspective of a player who has won a major and survived something far more serious than a missed cut. Augusta National rewards the kind of length and ambition he possesses. Aronimink will test his iron play on a Donald Ross design. Shinnecock Hills is a U.S. Open venue, and Woodland has proven he can perform on the biggest stage the USGA offers. Royal Birkdale will challenge him to control his ball flight in links conditions. He will compete at all four: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. Fans can check tee times in United States time.