Gary Woodland is a household name among America’s greatest modern golfers due to his strong drive, combative nature and victory at the 2019 U.S. Open on the course of Pebble Beach. Gary Woodland was born in Topeka, Kansas, and grew up to become a professional golfer after playing golf in college at the University of Kansas and turning pro in 2007.
During his career, Woodland has accumulated PGA TOUR wins, Presidents Cup selections, a major win and tough times both professionally and personally. He became even more interesting when he underwent brain surgery in 2023 and talked about fighting PTSD publicly.
In 2026, Woodland put together another one of his best comebacks in which he won the Texas Children’s Houston Open for his fifth PGA TOUR victory, made the cut in the U.S. Open where he finished tied for seventh, played in the BMW Championship and made it into the TOUR Championship.
Gary Woodland Biography Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gary Woodland |
| Date of Birth | May 21, 1984 |
| Age | 42 years old |
| Birthplace | Topeka, Kansas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) |
| Weight | About 195 lbs (88 kg) |
| College | University of Kansas |
| Turned Professional | 2007 |
| PGA TOUR Card | 2009 |
| PGA TOUR Wins | 5 |
| Major Championships | 1 |
| Major Win | 2019 U.S. Open |
| Wife | Gabby Woodland |
| Children | Jaxson, Maddox and Lennox |
| Residence | Delray Beach, Florida |
| 2026 Victory | Texas Children’s Houston Open |
According to PGA TOUR, Woodland’s height is 6’1″ and weighs 195 lbs. The golfer has won five PGA TOUR events with career earnings in excess of $42 million.
Early Life and Childhood
Gary Woodland was born on May 21, 1984, in Topeka, Kansas. Coming from a family where sports were common, the young man has developed a keen competitive nature. It was only a matter of time when golfing became Gary Woodland’s way to go due to his athleticism.
One of the key things in Woodland’s golfing career was his strength. Already in junior days, Woodland was famous for producing huge power off the tee.
Woodland has never tried to get rid of his Kansas origins even after becoming a professional golfer. He has often stressed his ties with the state of Kansas and the University of Kansas.
Gary Woodland College Career
Woodland studied at the University of Kansas, where he played golf and proved his talents as an amateur player.
Those days of college have prepared him well for the future as far as professional competitions are concerned, especially because the young man managed to work out his natural power along with the necessary strategy.
Woodland did not turn professional immediately after finishing studying at university. Turning pro in 2007, Woodland needed some time to learn how to become consistent in professional tournaments.
The golfer got his PGA TOUR card in 2009. PGA Tour
Gary Woodland Professional Golf Career
In his professional golfing career, Gary Woodland has experienced several phases. First, there was a phase of establishing oneself as a professional golfer. Second, the golfer achieved multiple victories and, finally, his first major title.
Woodland won his first PGA TOUR event in 2011 at the Transitions Championship. The golfer got his second PGA TOUR victory in 2013 at the Reno-Tahoe Open.
His third PGA TOUR title happened in 2018 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open when he beat Chez Reavie in a playoff. This win was crucial for Woodland, because it has shown that he can withstand pressure during one of the most exciting PGA TOUR events in terms of atmosphere.
But the biggest breakthrough of his career came the following year.
Gary Woodland and the 2019 U.S. Open
The key achievement of Gary Woodland’s career was his win at the 2019 U.S. Open in Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Going into the final round, Woodland led the tournament with a strong lineup of opponents, which featured not only the defending champion Brooks Koepka but also the previous winner of the U.S. Open Justin Rose.
Instead of letting the stress affect his performance, Woodland was aggressive and managed to keep his composure. For instance, during the game he played at the par-5 14th hole and took the risk of attacking the green with his second shot. This bold move helped him to make a birdie and increased his lead.
At the par-3 18th hole, Woodland made a beautiful 30-foot birdie putt and won the championship.
The player finished the tournament with the score of 13-under 271, beating Brooks Koepka by three strokes. This victory became Woodland’s first major championship, thus he changed his status from the successful PGA TOUR player to a major champion.
Winning this particular tournament was especially important for Woodland, since he could not use some of his chances to enter the final rounds as a leader.
This 2019 U.S. Open win is the cornerstone of Woodland’s professional career.
Gary Woodland’s PGA TOUR Wins
Woodland has five official PGA TOUR victories.
| Year | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Transitions Championship | Winner |
| 2013 | Reno-Tahoe Open | Winner |
| 2018 | Waste Management Phoenix Open | Winner |
| 2019 | U.S. Open | Winner |
| 2026 | Texas Children’s Houston Open | Winner |
His triumph in 2026 was one of the most significant victories of his career as it came after an extended period of absence from the peak form after his brain surgery and mental issues.
Gary Woodland’s 2026 Resurgence
The 2026 year proved to be a remarkable comeback for Woodland.
Having entered the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course, where he took second place in 2025, he made use of his great start and won with five strokes advantage.
Woodland scored 21-under 259, playing 64, 63, 65, and 67 rounds. Thus, the player achieved not only victory but also broke the tournament 72-hole scoring record, which was 260 earlier. Most importantly, it was his first PGA TOUR victory since the 2019 U.S. Open.
It helped him restore his qualification for the Masters and proved a great emotional achievement after tough years.
Gary Woodland’s 2026 Year Results
Apart from his victory at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, Woodland achieved some remarkable results during the season:
- Winner – Texas Children’s Houston Open
- T8 – RBC Heritage
- T6 – Charles Schwab Challenge
- T7 – U.S. Open
- T10 – 3M Open
- T4 – BMW Championship
- 29th – TOUR Championship
It should be noted that Woodland’s tied-seventh result at the 2026 U.S. Open was quite impressive as he had returned to this tournament as the 2019 champion and made four great rounds of 1-over par.
At the BMW Championship, Woodland took fourth place with the result of 12-under, qualifying him for the TOUR Championship. Overall, the player ended up 29th at the end-of-season event.
Gary Woodland’s Playing Style
Gary Woodland is known to be one of the most powerful ball strikers at the PGA TOUR.
His driving distance has always been one of the key factors of his success. Despite changes in modern golf favoring powerful strikes, Woodland combines his great speed, athleticism, and precision making him competitive.
PGA TOUR statistics prove that driving distance remains to be one of his strongest skills.
Still, Woodland’s success at the 2019 U.S. Open has shown that his game is not limited by just great distance strikes. Putting, decision-making, and course management played an important role there.
Gary Woodland Brain Surgery
Woodland’s life took a dramatic turn in 2023 when it turned out that he had a brain lesion.
In September 2023, Gary had brain surgery. After the treatment, he had to recover for quite some time, but finally, he returned to professional competition at the start of 2024.
It was a hard experience for Gary that influenced him not only physically but mentally as well. Later, he admitted that going back into professional golf did not mean that there were no more mental consequences left after the operation.
In March 2026, he announced publicly that he was struggling with PTSD caused by this experience.
It helped fans understand the real problems he faced while making a comeback. Woodland admitted that at first, he did not want to reveal any information about mental problems but then concluded that he had to do it.
Gary Woodland and Mental Health Awareness
One of the main elements of Woodland’s recent history is his willingness to talk about his mental health issues.
For a long time, professional athletes had to be tough regardless of their condition. By talking about his PTSD, Gary Woodland demonstrated that there is another kind of strength – the strength to admit when you need help.
In addition, the fact that he won the Houston Open shortly after he started talking publicly about his PTSD made it even more significant. Gary Woodland said that he owed this victory to the support he received and added that it took a lot of time to get rid of the mental issues connected with the brain surgery.
Besides, this episode of Gary’s life can be linked to the efforts for mental and brain health awareness.
Who Is Gary Woodland’s Wife?
Gary Woodland is married to Gabby Woodland.
They started dating in the early 2010s, became engaged in 2014 and married in October 2016 in Turks and Caicos. Gabby is quite a private person who does not like to appear publicly although sometimes she does it related to her husband’s work. People.com
She became especially significant for Gary during his difficult health condition. Gabby spoke about the influence of his brain lesion and surgery on her and continues supporting him during the recovery period.
Also, Gary says that Gabby is one of his main strengths.
Gary Woodland Children and Family
Gary and Gabby Woodland have three children: Jaxson, Maddox, and Lennox.
The story of their family is happy although it was not easy. Before having Jaxson, they had to suffer from losing one of their twins during the pregnancy in 2017. In 2019, Gary and Gabby became parents of twin girls Maddox and Lennox. People.com
Family has been an integral part of Woodland’s golf philosophy. While his professional accomplishments are very impressive, off-the-course events have come to play a more important part in determining his philosophy of success and toughness.
Gary Woodland Height
Gary Woodland stands approximately 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters) tall.
Being tall with an athletic physique and a club head that hits the ball at very high speed has added to the force of his powerful drive.
Gary Woodland Career Prize Money
According to the PGA TOUR, Gary Woodland has made more than $42 million in his PGA Tour career.
The total is based on many years of competitive play with hundreds of appearances in official tournaments, several wins, numerous top placements and a major championship. The PGA TOUR website shows 410 career starts and 298 cuts made.
In this case, it is necessary to differentiate between earnings from tournaments and estimated net worth which may include endorsements, investments, and others sources of income.
Gary Woodland Presidents Cup Career
Woodland played for the United States team at the 2019 Presidents Cup.
This was one of the achievements of his career as participation in Presidents Cup is limited to top-performing players internationally.
Woodland also participated for the United States at the World Cup in 2011.
Gary Woodland Career Statistics and Achievements
The main numbers of Woodland professional career include:
| Achievement | Gary Woodland |
|---|---|
| PGA TOUR Wins | 5 |
| Major Championships | 1 |
| U.S. Open Titles | 1 |
| Official PGA TOUR Earnings | $42+ million |
| PGA TOUR Starts | 410 |
| Cuts Made | 298 |
| PGA TOUR Top 10s | 62 |
| PGA TOUR Top 25s | 139 |
| Best FedExCup Finish | 15th |
| Highest 2026 Achievement | Texas Children’s Houston Open victory |
All of these figures are based on career PGA TOUR records as of 2026.
Gary Woodland’s Legacy
Gary Woodland’s legacy cannot be reduced only to his U.S. Open win.
It is a story of how a golfer evolves through time and achieves different career milestones. From being a powerful young player establishing his position on the PGA TOUR to becoming a multiple time winner and finally winning one of the biggest titles in golf.
Later, Gary’s career made an unexpected turn after the brain surgery and the subsequent psychological issues he had to go through. However, instead of ending his career in this manner, Gary decided to come back to playing and succeeded.
In 2026, another great chapter was written for Gary’s career when he won the Houston Open. His PGA TOUR win after almost seven-year hiatus was preceded by the top-10 finish at the U.S. Open and fourth place at the BMW Championship.
Final Thoughts
Gary Woodland’s biography is an illustration of talent, ambition, championship and resilience of this golfer.
From his life in Kansas and playing college golf at the University of Kansas through his first wins on the PGA TOUR, U.S. Open victory in 2019, and comeback in 2026 at the Houston Open, Woodland has gone through pretty much everything that one could experience during their professional career.
Additionally, his openness about mental health issues added another facet to his legacy as a golfer. Woodland proved that coming back from serious problems in golf does not depend only on recovery. The real challenge is overcoming psychological barriers, seeking support and competing even when there are difficulties that others cannot see.
Thus, as of 2026, Gary Woodland’s record shows that he is a five-time PGA TOUR winner and U.S. Open champion, whose latest victory proves that there is still much to come.
FAQs
Who is Gary Woodland?
Gary Woodland is an American professional golfer from Topeka, Kansas, and a five-time PGA TOUR winner. He won the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.
How old is Gary Woodland?
Gary Woodland was born on May 21, 1984, making him 42 years old in 2026.
How many PGA TOUR wins does Gary Woodland have?
Gary Woodland has five PGA TOUR victories, including the 2019 U.S. Open and the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open.
Who is Gary Woodland’s wife?
Gary Woodland is married to Gabby Woodland. They married in 2016 and have three children.
How many children does Gary Woodland have?
Gary and Gabby Woodland have three children: Jaxson, Maddox and Lennox.
When did Gary Woodland win the U.S. Open?
Woodland won the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links, finishing three shots ahead of Brooks Koepka at 13-under par.
What happened to Gary Woodland’s health?
Woodland underwent brain surgery in September 2023 after doctors discovered a lesion pressing on his brain. He later publicly discussed battling PTSD connected to the experience.
Did Gary Woodland win a PGA TOUR event in 2026?
Yes. He won the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open by five strokes at 21-under 259, earning his first PGA TOUR victory since the 2019 U.S. Open.
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