Woodland embraced the moment at Augusta National this week, reflecting on the tradition and significance of the Masters<\/a>.<\/p>\n “I love this place,” Woodland said Tuesday. “I love the tradition. There\u2019s nothing like driving down Magnolia Lane. I definitely drove down a little slower this year than I ever have, even the first time I was here in 2011. I\u2019m definitely taking it all in this week for sure.”<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM<\/a><\/p>\n Gary Woodland hits balls at the practice facility during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 7, 2026. (Bill Streicher\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n However, Woodland also acknowledged that the crowds and close quarters at Augusta National could be triggering.<\/p>\n “It’s a big week for me this week,” he said. “The fans are very close on the tee boxes. There’s a lot going on. There’s probably not a safer golf tournament in the world, so I’m happy for that. But it’s still a battle in my head if I’m safe or not. That’s a tough pill to swallow.”<\/p>\n PHIL MICKELSON WITHDRAWS FROM THE MASTERS, JOINS TIGER WOODS IN SITTING OUT SIGNATURE MAJOR<\/a><\/p>\n Woodland, who won the 2019 U.S. Open<\/a>, recently revealed that he has battled post-traumatic stress disorder for roughly a year. In 2023, he underwent a procedure to remove a benign brain lesion that triggered seizures, anxiety and fear.<\/p>\n But even after the surgery, Woodland\u2019s symptoms persisted, leading to a PTSD diagnosis.<\/p>\n Gary Woodland hits out of the bunker on the second hole during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 6, 2026. (Michael Madrid\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n Woodland, 41, spent part of his week at Augusta National meeting with security officials.<\/p>\n “The main deal is they were showing me where security is,” Woodland said. “The whole deal for me is it’s visual, right? If I can see somebody, then I can remind myself that I’m safe constantly. So, I have a good idea now where security is on every hole.”<\/p>\n Woodland described a recent tense stretch at the Houston Open two weeks ago, when he was on high alert late in his second round.<\/p>\n Gary Woodland chips onto the green on the eighth hole during the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open golf tournament in Houston, Texas, on March 29, 2026. (Erik Williams\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n “I battled the last 10 holes thinking people were trying to kill me,” Woodland said. “I have security with me. But I talked to [PGA] Tour security that night, and I told them what I was going through. Every time I looked up on the weekend, my security team was behind me.”<\/p>\n The victory at last month\u2019s tournament secured Woodland the last spot in the highly competitive Masters field.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n Months before undergoing surgery in 2023, Woodland finished tied for 14th at that year\u2019s Masters. He missed the cut at Augusta National in 2024 and also fell short of qualifying for last year\u2019s Masters.<\/p>\n “I’m emotional from the standpoint I know how close I probably was to never being back here, and I’m very proud of myself for earning my way back,” Woodland noted. “People ask me, ‘How was the win?’ The one thing I know is having this brain tumor and having PTSD, it doesn’t matter if I win or lose. It doesn’t care.”<\/p>\n Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s sports coverage on X<\/a>, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n![\"Gary](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gary-woodland-masters-augusta-national.jpeg\")
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