President Trump, golf legend Nicklaus, Chiefs QB Mahomes applaud Gary Woodland
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Jack Nicklaus and many peers praised Gary Woodland after his Houston win.
- Woodland won the Houston Open at 21-under, his first win since 2019.
- Win spotlights his recovery from Sept. 18, 2023 brain surgery and PTSD struggles.
Jack Nicklaus, deemed by many the greatest pro golfer of all time thanks to 18 wins in major championships, saluted former University of Kansas golfer Gary Woodland on social media Monday in response to Woodland’s 5-stroke victory over runnerup Nicolai Hojgaard on Sunday at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
It was the fifth PGA Tour victory in Woodland’s pro career and first since the 2019 U.S. Open. The 41-year-old Topeka native won for the first time since undergoing surgery to remove a significant portion of a benign tumor on his brain on Sept. 18, 2023. He returned to the tour in 2024.
“I think the whole world was rooting this weekend for (Woodland), starting with my family and me. There was not a single person I talked to over the last few days that was not in Gary’s corner, cheering him on,” Nicklaus wrote on Instagram. “For all that Gary has been through the last few years — from the brain surgery to opening his heart and soul to the world about his recent challenges — and then to show such resilience and mental toughness, while playing great golf, made for an incredible win and moment. It was not just a great win for Gary and his family, but a great victory for the game of golf.”
Woodland — he competed at KU from 2003-07 — recently said in an emotional interview with The Golf Channel that PTSD has had him breaking down and crying in the middle of rounds in which he’s tried desperately to hide his tears from fans and fellow competitors. The lesion that was removed from his brain is from the part that causes moments of unfounded fear.
Woodland shot rounds of 64, 63, 65 and 67 for a tourney-record score of 21-under-par 259 in Houston. His other tour victories include the 2011 Transitions Championship, the 2013 Reno-Tahoe Open, the 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open and the 2019 U.S. Open.
Nicklaus was not the only person to send Woodland congratulations.
“So happy for Gary and family. What an amazing story. Courage prevails,” KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self said in a text message to The Star.
“Gary Woodland … No words. Tackled adversity head-on. Never wavered in staying true to his values. And a champion once again. An all-time great Jayhawk and (Kansan),” KU athletic director Travis Goff wrote on X.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wrote on X: “Congrats!!! Awesome to witness the comeback and getting back in the winners circle!!”
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Congratulations to a great guy, and golfer, Gary Woodland, on his big win today in the Texas Children’s Houston Open. He shot 21-under-par! What a GREAT comeback from a serious health problem he has achieved. Gary is a total WINNER!!!”
ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas wrote on X: “Gary Woodland is one of the good guys. The first U.S. Open champion to have also suited up for a hoops game in Allen Fieldhouse at KU, too. Congrats.”
Woodland, who played basketball one season at Washburn before heading to KU on golf scholarship, played for the Ichabods against the Jayhawks in an exhibition game during the 2002-03 preseason at Allen Fieldhouse.
National golf writer Dan Rapaport wrote on X: “Gary Woodland is as good a guy as you’ll find in any sport. Truly an incredible, incredible victory for a 10/10 human being.”
ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt wrote on X: “The list of best dudes on Tour has included Gary Woodland since he’s been out there. Given all he’s endured in the past couple years and the riveting interview with Golf Channel (regarding his PTSD), today carries more weight than most wins. Will be awesome to see him at Augusta (at the Masters).”
From two time PGA Tournament champ Justin Thomas on X: “The whole world is for Gary Woodland. LFG!!!”
From 2013 U.S. Open champ Justin Rose on X: “What a moment… what an inspirational story. Congratulations Gary Woodland and all Team Woodland.”
From Tommy Fleetwood, who has finished in the top three in three golf majors, on X: “It was always ‘a when’ not ‘an if’ for Gary Woodland. So proud of everything for you and the family — a huge inspiration to us all!! Congratulations.”
The PGA of America wrote on X: “Just keep fighting. It’s a great day for Gary Woodland and a great day for golf.”
Woodland on Monday withdrew from the Valero Texas Open, which starts Thursday. He did so because his victory in Houston automatically qualified him for the 2026 Masters, to be held a week from Thursday in Georgia.
