Player Profile - Gary Woodland

This week’s player profile introduces the talented young American golfer Gary Woodland. Born in the city of Topeka in the state of Kansas, Woodland began his foray into golf while completing his schooling at Shawnee Heights High School. A multi-talented athlete, he initially enrolled at Washburn College on a basketball scholarship before taking a change of direction that saw him switch schools, studying at the University of Kansas with a golf scholarship to boot.

Having settled in at the University of Kansas, Woodland got to work on his golf training. A successful college golf career saw him lifting the trophy at four events. In 2005 he won the Cleveland State Invitational in the nearby state of Ohio. The following year, back in his home state, he won the Kansas invitational. In 2007, two years after his initial victory, Woodland snapped up two tournaments in a season winning the All-American Golf Classic and the Louisiana Classics. Later that year he turned professional.

Woodland’s debut year saw him playing several events on the second-tier Nationwide Tour. Having made a sufficient number of cuts in his first professional season, Woodland attended the PGA’s qualifying school at the end of the season and received a tour exemption. In 2008 and 2009 he played in events on both the US PGA and Nationwide tours, giving his game the opportunity to become solid and well-established. A stumbling block appeared in 2009 when Woodland developed a shoulder injury that cut his season short. The young American took some time off, weathered his injury and returned in 2010 ready for a challenge.

After a successful comeback season in 2010, Gary Woodland started the 2011 season in fine form. Last weekend he won the Transitions Championship by one stroke over Webb Simpson, his first-ever win on the US PGA Tour. Gary Woodland has made his mark on professional golf, and fans will be following his progress with great interest.