By Tom Patri, TPGOLF Schools ~ NAPLES, Fl.

Gary Woodland has been a champion on many fronts even before he claimed the US Open crown this past Sunday at iconic Pebble Beach.

Gary of course has been a PGA Tour Champion 3 times before Pebble this past week and although never a winner of a major championship, some would argue he had made other types of major contributions via golf before this past Sunday. As I watched Gary play the back nine under the most extreme pressure in our sport, my mind thought of all he has done in support of our military and their families. Gary and his clothing sponsor joined forces some time ago. Gary wears the company’s Folds of Honor collection, a percentage of the proceeds go to Folds of Honor which provides for spouses and children of fallen and disabled soldiers. Folds of honor helps those families in various ways including educational scholarships. Woodland has been a vocal supporter of our military veterans for some time.

Gary also tugged on all our hearts earlier in this year’s golf season during the Phoenix Open when he invited Special Olympian Amy Bockerstette to play the Par 3 16th at TPC Scottsdale, the hole surrounded by 20,000 rowdy golf fans. Amy proceeded to get up and down from a greenside bunker and hole a 10 foot par putt. The crowd went wild! Equally impressive to me as I watched was how into it Woodland was. Gary was both encouraging Amy and coaching her every step of the way. He told Amy repeatedly “you have got this!” Check it out on YouTube, it will bring a tear to your eye for sure. The video has become the PGA Tours most viral video ever! Gary’s time with Amy was beyond sincere. He showed us a very human side of what is often the robotic nature of many professional golfers. It was very clear who Woodland the human being is.

During the final two rounds at the US Open Woodland held himself together in brilliant fashion holing clutch putts at what seemed like every key juncture. It seemed like Gary was repeating his encouraging words he had for Amy back in Phoenix, “You have got this”! Gary has always been a decent ball striker, long off the tee, strong and athletic. So gifted that he was a three sport athlete in High School in Kansas. Gary was an All State point guard and played a year of college ball at D ll powerhouse Washburn before transferring to Kansas to play golf.

All that said it was last summer, July to be exact, at the British Open that Gary sort the counsel of European Putting Guru Phil Kenyon. Feeling if he was going to move his game to the next level, his putting needed to improve. Well give Gary and Phil an A+ for a job well done. This past week at our National Championship on testy undulating putting surfaces that have traditionally tested the world’s best golfers, Woodland holed any number of 5 to 15 footers time and time again. Throw in a few bombs and his share of very tricky 3 to 5 footers and call it a day. Gary Woodland 2019 U S Open Champion!

Woodland is easy to root for. Tall, strong, long, athletic, and now a great clutch putter. More importantly a solid citizen. A guy you can embrace as a positive role model. I for one am on the Woodland train. I think this guy has arrived and we may well have not heard the last of him. Golf is in a great place as our next stop of historical significance is the Open Championship, this year in Ireland. So many good guys to embrace. Woodland, Brooks, JT, Ricky, Molinari, Fleetwood, Woods, Rose, Cantlay, Schauffele, Finau, Scott, Day, Na, Stetson, and the list goes on.