sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Golfer to be followed by security at Masters after PTSD diagnosis: 'I thought people were trying to kill me'

Home> Golf

Published 11:00 8 Apr 2026 GMT+1

Golfer to be followed by security at Masters after PTSD diagnosis: 'I thought people were trying to kill me'

Gary Woodland announced in March that he had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

A golfer at The Masters will be followed around the course at Augusta National by his own personal security detail.

The 2026 Masters Tournament gets underway on Thursday, with a field of 91 players set to take part.

Among them is 2019 US Open champion Gary Woodland, who received an invite via winning the Texas Children's Houston Open last month.

It was Woodland's first victory on the PGA Tour since his US Open success, and his first since undergoing surgery on a benign brain tumour in September 2023.

Advert

While the surgery was successful, the tumour could not be fully removed and has since caused residual side-effects, including anxiety and hypertension, as it presses against the part of the brain which is responsible for controlling fear and emotions.

In March, Woodland revealed that he had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

He told Golf Channel that he had received the formal diagnosis around a year previously, explaining that hypervigilance - where someone is extremely alert or cautious, especially around groups of people - is one of his side-effects.

"A walking scorer startled me, got close to me close from behind," he recalled. "I pulled my caddie and said, 'You can't let anybody get behind me'.

Gary Woodland pictured ahead of the 2026 Masters Tournament (Image: Getty)
Gary Woodland pictured ahead of the 2026 Masters Tournament (Image: Getty)

READ NEXT: Golfer praised for incredible sportsmanship on Gary Woodland's final hole in Houston Open

"Next thing you know, I couldn't remember what I was doing. My eyesight started to get blurry.

"It was my turn to hit and I couldn't hit. Butch [caddie] said, 'Let's go in'. I said, 'No man, I'm here for these guys. I want to fight through this'.

"I went into every bathroom to cry for the rest of the day. When I got done, I got in my car and got out of there.

"There are days when it's tough - crying in the scoring trailer, running to my car just to hide it. I don't want to live that way anymore."

For his opening two rounds of The Masters - and, hopefully for Woodland, into the weekend - the 41-year-old has been able to negotiate additional security detail who will follow him around the 18 holes at Augusta National.

During a pre-Masters press conference, Woodland revealed that he thought that people in the crowd 'were trying to kill me' during the latter stages of his second round at the Texas Children's Houston Open.

"It's a big week for me this week," he told journalists. "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.

"When I was diagnosed with this brain tumour three years ago, my No.1 thought was: I wasn't going to let this thing win.

"I've dreamed of being a professional athlete since I was a little kid, and I would do everything in my power to live that dream for my childhood self."

Featured Image Credit: Getty
Ryan Smart
Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.

Recommended reads

Dennis Taylor interview: Why snooker legend is playing in brand-new event... and how he saved someone's lifeGettyRanking the top 10 best golfers of all time as Nicklaus v Woods GOAT debate settledGetty ImagesDavid Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridartsMark Selby lifts lid on backstage talks over Crucible as landmark agreement reachedGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
16 hours ago
21 hours ago
a day ago
  • Justin Casterline/Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Major champion planning PGA Tour comeback after being relegated from LIV Golf

    The former Open winner is ready to make a comeback that nobody saw coming.

    Golf
  • Hector Vivas/Getty Images
    16 hours ago

    LIV Golf CEO confirms Saudi funding will end in August in major shutdown update

    The LIV Golf boss has finally addressed the latest rumours.

    Golf
  • Getty
    21 hours ago

    Jon Rahm breaks silence on LIV Golf shutdown rumours as PIF confirm Al Hilal sale

    Rahm, the winner of the 2023 Masters, was LIV's most-expensive signing when he joined the tour in 2023.

    Golf
  • Hector Vivas/Getty Images
    a day ago

    PGA Tour chief speaks out on LIV Golf shutdown and if DeChambeau and co. could return

    PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has addressed the rumours surrounding LIV Golf's future.

    Golf
  • Golfer praised for incredible sportsmanship on Gary Woodland's final hole in Houston Open
  • Jordi Amat exclusive: 'My grandmother told me that I was a prince... I thought it was an old wives' tale'
  • Astrid Wett held back by security after trying to fight Alexia Grace at press conference
  • Palmeiras player Gabriel Menino thought he was 'going to die' after trying Cristiano Ronaldo's diet