Gary Woodland’s wife was right when she said, “This is like a career ruiner.” She was alluding to the unfortunate brain tumor that her husband was diagnosed with back in 2023. Although the pro did undergo surgery last year, his comeback to the men’s circuit in 2024 has been anything but notable, that is until his recent Shriners Children’s Open finish. But, was that enough to ensure a PGA Tour card for the upcoming season?
The golfer is currently placed at the 137th position on the FedEx Cup Fall standings. And as per the rules of the PGA Tour, only the top 125 on the rankings receive a card to earn an exemption into the regular season in 2025. Unfortunately, Woodland, as of now, is not eligible for the same. But he will be, if he manages to finish inside the top 125 by the end of the FedEx Fall events, at the RSM Classic, to be more precise.
USA Today via Reuters May 17, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Gary Woodland lines up his putt on the 18th green during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Clare Grant-USA TODAY Sports
But there’s a twist. Gary Woodland had, back in 2019, emerged victorious at one of the major championships, the U.S. Open. And as a result of the same, he managed to earn a 10-year exemption into the prestigious event, as usual. However, the same cannot be said when it comes to the PGA Tour card and the rest of the events.
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A U.S. Open win does provide an exemption into the next 5 editions of the PLAYERS Championship. Consequently, Woodland will be able to tee off at the upcoming tournament at TPC Sawgrass in 2025, owing to it not being played in 2020 due to COVID-19. But the same won’t be the case for his 5-year PGA Tour exemption which got over in 2024.
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Unfortunate as it may seem, he will need to dish out his best in the upcoming tournaments to climb the FedEx Cup Fall rankings to earn a card for the next season. On the other hand, he does seem to be on the right path. And it’s all thanks to the T16 finish at the Sanderson Farms Championship and the recent T9 placement at the Shriners Children’s Open, both of which he was able to card despite the surgery he had for the brain tumor back in 2023.
What had happened to Gary Woodland?
It was the 2023 Wyndham Championship. Woodland had just finished T27 at the PGA Tour event. Little did the golfer know that he would be diagnosed with a brain tumor soon after, causing him to take a break from the sport. Seeing as how medicines weren’t enough to treat it, the athlete decided to undergo surgery for the same back in August and scheduled it for the month of September.
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The PGA Tour Pro’s team, on September 19, announced the success of the surgery following which he was forced to rest in order to make a complete recovery. Fast forward to the start of the 2024 PGA Tour season in January, and the pro decided to tee off at the Sony Open in Hawaii that took place in Waialae Country Club, Honolulu. “This journey has been very hard but I’m extremely thankful to be progressing and for the unconditional love and support from everyone,” said Woodland while recounting his road to recovery.
The year hasn’t been that kind to the PGA Tour Pro. For he had only managed to finish once inside the top 10. And that too came in the recently ended tournament at TPC Summerlin. Gary Woodland sure does have a long way to go if he is to make a proper comeback on the men’s circuit. Fingers crossed for the golfer!