PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Gary Woodland spoke of the fear of dying when he returned to the PGA Tour in January after enduring a terrifying four months last year.
Woodland was diagnosed with a lesion on his brain that led to seizures and anxiety. After having surgery Sept. 18 he returned to competitive golf last month in Hawaii.
Woodland missed three consecutive cuts. And although just playing golf again was a victory, do not tell that to the 39-year-old who accepts nothing less than victory.
“Maybe that’s unrealistic,” he said.
Woodland took his first step toward that goal Friday when he made the cut at the Genesis Invitational. He shot a 72 and is at even par for the tournament, one shot inside the cut line. He is 13 shots behind leader Patrick Cantlay.
“To come out and actually make the cut and actually grind coming down the stretch, I haven’t been in position to really do that,” Woodland said. “It was nice because I got some juices and some energy flowing that I haven’t had in a long time.”
Woodland was on the cut line before making a birdie on No. 17 to give him a cushion heading into the final hole.
“My game’s trending in the right direction, so for me to play two more rounds is a big deal for me,” he said.
Woodland was in the group with Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas. Woods withdrew Friday after six holes because of illness. Thomas was among the 17 players who missed the cut.
“I feel for him because I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him,” said Woodland, who is in the field after receiving an invite from Woods, who hosts the event. “I hope he gets back. His game looked right, his putting was nice, speed’s up for sure. His game’s going to be in a good spot.”
Woodland shot a 70 on Thursday, a round that included four birdies and an eagle on No. 11. He started with a birdie Friday then carded bogeys on Nos. 4, 9 and 16 before his birdie on 17.
Woodland missed the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii, Farmers Insurance Open and last week at the WM Phoenix Open, where he shot a 79 on Thursday before improving to a 67 on Friday.
“Last week I shot a million I think the first round, but for me to come back and shoot 4 under, I didn’t play great but I just needed to see that,” he said. “I just needed it. I told my caddie, I called my wife when I got done, I was like ‘It wasn’t great but I needed that.’And today grinding down the stretch, I didn’t play as well as I did yesterday, but to fight through it, it just shows me that it’s all trending in the right direction.”
Woodland, whose next event will be the Cognizant Classic Feb. 29-March 3 at PGA National, tees off Saturday at 10:35 a.m. ET (7:35 p.m. local time). He is playing with Lee Hodges.