Gary Woodland

Gary Woodland was born on May 21, 1984, in Topeka, Kansas. He initially attended Washburn University on a basketball scholarship before transferring to the University of Kansas to pursue golf. Woodland had a successful collegiate golf career, securing four tournament victories, including the 2005 Cleveland State Invitational, 2006 Kansas Invitational, 2007 All-American Golf Classic, and the 2007 Louisiana Classics. He also achieved milestones such as qualifying for the NCAA Regional three times and being named to the 2007 Hogan Watch List before turning professional in 2007.

After turning professional, Woodland joined the Nationwide Tour in 2007 and 2008. He earned his PGA Tour card for the 2009 season through Qualifying School, where he finished in a tie for 11th place. Despite a challenging debut season impacted by injury, he regained his full PGA Tour status in 2010. His breakthrough came in 2011 with his first PGA Tour victory at the Transitions Championship, followed by an additional win at the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup with Matt Kuchar, significantly improving his world ranking. Woodland continued to build his career, with notable performances including a runner-up finish at the 2015 WGC-Cadillac Match Play.

Woodland achieved his most significant career victory in 2019, winning the U.S. Open, his first major championship and fourth PGA Tour title. This win propelled him to 12th in the Official World Golf Ranking. His professional career includes a total of four PGA Tour wins, 56 top-10 finishes, and over $36 million in official earnings. In December 2019, he represented the U.S. team at the Presidents Cup, contributing to their victory. In February 2025, Woodland was honored with the PGA Tour Courage Award following brain surgery in September 2023, highlighting his determination and resilience.