Follow us on Google Discover Collin Morikawa and Gary Woodland both enjoyed fine tournaments at the BMW Championship last week.
Morikawa and Woodland finished in a tie for fourth at Bellerive and they are both safely through to the Tour Championship this week at East Lake.
The 42-year-old posted a final-round 69 on Sunday at the BMW, while his younger contemporary carded a 68.
The fact that Gary Woodland even competes on a consistent basis nowadays is impressive in itself.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
His struggles have been well-documented since he returned from undergoing successful brain surgery in 2023.
Woodland opened up on his PTSD struggles ahead of The Players Championship back in March.
The honesty and bravery he has since shown is truly remarkable. The man from Topeka, Kansas, regularly feels overwhelmed out on the golf course and the fact that he managed to return to the winners’ circle this year is hugely impressive.
Now Collin Morikawa has opened up about what it is like to play with the 42-year-old at the moment.
Collin Morikawa admits what it was like to play with Gary Woodland at the BMW
Woodland is highly respected by his fellow PGA Tour players due to the mental battle he is constantly going through.
MORE GARY WOODLAND STORIES
Morikawa is clearly a big fan of the 2019 U.S. Open champion.
After playing his final round alongside Woodland at the BMW Championship, the two-time major winner told reporters what that experience was really like.
“Gary’s one of the first pros I got to kind of talk to and meet, just being out of the same agency,“ Morikawa explained.
“I don’t think people realize how good of a guy he is. Like, down to earth. And to see what he’s gone through, you can hear the people out there cheering for him.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
“I played behind him this week the first two days, and just hearing that support, I know that for him is awesome.
“But it all starts with the people around him, the team around him, Gabby, his kids.
“I felt like it was a very comfortable pairing for me and him. Made a couple mistakes out there between the two of us. I thought we had a really good kind of momentum and were able to build off each other.“
Gary Woodland explains why he was so emotional after the BMW
Woodland showed huge emotion after making his putt for par on the final green at Bellerive on Sunday.
He responded when asked by one reporter exactly why that was.
“That it’s over with,“ he said.
“Yesterday was a lot for me. There was a lot of noise, obviously the energy out here is amazing. The crowds are massive. A lot of Mizzou people out there yelling. I tried to block it out yesterday and I couldn’t do it. It drained me.
“Today I tried to embrace it. So I’m proud of myself for coming with a different mindset today than I did yesterday. I played, outside of one really bad shot, I played beautifully today.
“So I’m glad this week’s over with, but I’m proud of where I’m going next week.“
Join Our Newsletter
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox