Gary Woodland entered the BMW Championship with more than a place at the Tour Championship on the line. The former U.S. Open champion arrived at Bellerive Country Club ranked 31st in the FedExCup standings, one position outside the top 30 who advance to East Lake.
Woodland responded with a 6-under 64 on Thursday, sharing the lead with Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun and Chris Gotterup. But one detail from his round carried significance beyond the leaderboard. Woodland was seen placing his hand over his heart before putting, and he later explained why the gesture has become part of how he manages difficult moments on the course.
His strong start also moved him from No. 31 to a projected No. 12 in the FedExCup standings. Woodland has not reached the Tour Championship since 2019, the same year he won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.
Gary Woodland Explains Heart Gesture During BMW Championship
GettyGary Woodland of the United alongside caddie Brennan Little
Woodland revealed after his opening round that placing his hand over his heart is a way to manage the anxiety he continues to experience following brain surgery and his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“When I’m struggling I put my hand on my heart to just to remind myself that I’m alive, and if I can feel my heartbeat I know I’m breathing,” Woodland said, according to The Dallas Morning News. “And I’ve done that this year just to try to slow my heart down, tell myself I’m safe and I’ll be all right.”
Woodland underwent surgery in September 2023 to remove most of a lesion from his brain. He later disclosed that he had been dealing with PTSD during his recovery.
The 42-year-old said publicly discussing those struggles earlier this year provided some relief, even though they have not disappeared.
“I still battle the same things now that I was battling then, but I feel the love and support, I don’t feel like I’m hiding anything,” Woodland said. “I have more energy and that’s the big deal.”
His perspective was reinforced at last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, where Woodland met an 11-year-old boy from New Zealand who has an inoperable brain tumor.
“I know I’m fighting for a lot more than playing golf,” Woodland said. “I’m hopefully having a positive impact on a lot of people’s lives just showing up and fighting.”
Woodland’s return has already included a significant milestone. He won the Texas Children’s Houston Open earlier this season, his fifth PGA Tour title and first victory since the 2019 U.S. Open.
Gary Woodland Moves Into Tour Championship Position
Woodland’s opening 64 at Bellerive gave him an immediate boost in his attempt to return to East Lake.
He hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation and played his first 17 holes without a bogey. His biggest moment came at the par-4 11th, where he holed a sand wedge from around 100 yards for eagle. His only bogey came at No. 18.
“I controlled the distance. I gave myself a lot of opportunities,” Woodland said. “I left a lot out there as well [but] I’m proud of the way I controlled the ball today.”
Bellerive also has history for Woodland. He opened with a 64 at the course during the 2018 PGA Championship before eventually tying for sixth. This week’s event is being played only a few hours from his Kansas roots.
Now Woodland has another opportunity at the course. Only the top 30 in the FedExCup standings after the BMW Championship advance to next week’s Tour Championship.
“I can promise you East Lake wasn’t on my mind to start the year,” Woodland said. “It’s a goal, I think you write it down, but it seemed like far, far away.”
After one round at Bellerive, that goal is considerably closer.
Gary Woodland Reveals Emotional Reason Behind Heart Gesture at BMW Championship