Back to the Golf Newsfeed

Woodland playing for late grandmother as he looks to close out TOC win

KAPALUA, Hawaii – Not that he needed it, but Gary Woodland will have some extra motivation when he tees off on Sunday at the Sentry Tournament of Champions with a three-stroke lead.

Woodland’s grandmother died last night at her home in Kansas.

“I got that phone call late last night. That's been tough,” Woodland said. “She's been downhill for a little while now. It's been tough. You try to prepare for that but you never really can. So definitely have a little extra emotion with me, but we'll get through it.”

Woodland, who padded his lead with a third-round 68 that included a 64-footer for eagle at the 15th hole, has dealt with his share of family tragedies in recent years.