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In September of 2023, Gary Woodland had to go through a non-trivial surgery. In brief, he went through an operation to remove a tumor from his brain. It would have been a very unpleasant experience, with the recovery period just as grueling. Nonetheless, he pressed on through the 2024 season, starting with the Hawaii Sony Open. In 2025, right before the Cognizant Classic, Gary Woodland was awarded the Courage Award for his persistence in the face of hardship. He was still struggling all throughout this, but this past week, he managed to land himself in second place for an event.
Woodland’s Long-Awaited Comeback
Despite having a full recovery from his surgery, this season has been pretty mixed for Woodland. He often struggled to get into the top 20 and, more often than not, would land above that. He also had three missed cuts, still impressive for a man who had to get his skull cracked open. It would still be disheartening for a professional athlete to just barely squeak by. That is, until the Texas Children’s Houston Open, where he ended T2. He was ecstatic with this win. Despite not getting first, this was his first major victory since the 2023 season before his diagnosis. Woodland took to Instagram to share his feelings.
“Almost there. This might be the best second place has ever felt. I can’t get over how incredible the fans were today, your energy carried me so much. Thank you @tchouopen for a great week. See you all at @valerotxopen, let’s bring it home”
This was a massive victory because he only missed first place by one stroke, and breakout star Min Woo Lee was his competition. Gary Woodland gave his congrats and words of gratitude to Min Woo Lee after the event.
“First off, congrats to Min Woo. Everyone out here knows how talented the kid is. He’s an absolute stud. We all know once you break through for him, the sky’s the limit, so really happy for him,” said Woodland.
Support From Fans
While Gary Woodland was struggling he always had his fans giving him all the support they can. After his second place win, his Instagram was alight with support and kind words from fans.
“Mannnn it was amazing today to watch you play at this level once again brother! All your hard work is paying off.”
“From a dude whose Auburn Tigers just made the Final Four, congrats man. Golf is better with you in it. War Eagle and Rock Chalk!”
“You deserve it!!! Congrats!!! We were cheering you on!”
Woodland’s Instagram is full of support like this. Needless to say, the fans are just as excited for this victory as he is.
Is Woodland Back?
With this recent victory, it seems that Gary Woodland is determined to make his comeback and will follow through on it. The past couple of years have been famously difficult for him, and yet he pressed on. His determination has already gotten him some acclaim this season alone. It would be worth the time to see where he goes next.
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Steelers In Town Scouting Elite Top Quarterback Prospect For 2026 NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of excitement heading into the 2025 season with Aaron Rodgers in town, along with many other new faces. The team has Super Bowl expectations, but the fan base is still craving a true franchise quarterback to lead them for years to come. While rookie Will Howard has looked promising in training camp, he is not expected to be the long-term answer at quarterback. After the 2025 season concludes, the Steelers will be hosting the 2026 NFL Draft. Many pundits believe this event will be where the Steelers finally find their franchise quarterback, a player who can bring stability and success to the position. The anticipation is high, and the organization is clearly preparing to make a big move. On Monday, it was reported by Brad Denny, who provides excellent coverage of Arizona State football, that the Steelers have sent scouts to evaluate their prospects. Among those they are watching closely is the top quarterback prospect Sam Leavitt, indicating the team’s serious interest in securing a future star through the draft. In November of 2022, the Sun Devils hired Head Coach Kenny Dillingham, who has quickly transformed the team. What was once considered a struggling program has now become an exciting and competitive squad, with serious potential to contend for a national title heading into the 2025 season. Naturally, Steelers fans immediately think of Leavitt when they hear about scouts visiting, but the Sun Devils’ roster is loaded with NFL talent beyond just their star quarterback. It’s very possible the Steelers’ interest extends to other promising players as well. Chris Karpman gave more details about the amount of NFL scouts at the ASU practice on Monday. "There are 11 NFL scouts representing 10 teams at today’s ASU practice, the most at any practice since Dillingham became head coach," Karpman said on social media. It’s certainly interesting, but not surprising, to hear that the Steelers had scouts in attendance at the ASU practice. Sheldon White, the Steelers’ Director of Pro Scouting, is clearly involved in deciding who the organization will scout, when, and why. It’s no secret that the Steelers are in desperate need of a true franchise quarterback. Many believe the 2026 NFL Draft will be Pittsburgh’s biggest opportunity to find that quarterback since their attempt with Kenny Pickett in 2022. That experiment didn’t go as planned, and now, with 12 expected draft picks in a quarterback class that could be loaded with talent, the Steelers are getting an early look. They’ve begun scouting at ASU, keeping a close eye on potential prospects. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that former Steelers legend Hines Ward is still the wide receivers coach at ASU. His presence adds another layer of connection to the reports of Steelers scouts attending ASU practices, suggesting strong ties and serious interest in the program and its players. Steelers' Will Howard Has Looked Good In Training Camp Early reports out of camp are that sixth-round pick Howard has done a solid job with the opportunities he’s been given. The issue for Howard is that the Steelers are expected to draft a top quarterback prospect. Making such a big investment in a promising player will make it even harder for Howard to steal the starting job. Naturally, when more resources are tied up in a higher-end prospect, the team will do more to get the most out of that player. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible for Howard, but he will need to continue to thrive if he wants any chance to compete for the starting job after Rodgers.
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