Four months after brain surgery, Gary Woodland to play 2024 Sony Open in Hawaii

Woodland will be among the 144 golfers competing in the first full-field event of the new season.

Less than four months after surgery to remove tumors on his brain, Gary Woodland is set to return to action on the PGA Tour. Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis was first to report the news.

During a live report from the 2024 season opener, The Sentry, on Maui on Friday, Lewis said Woodland is entered in the Sony Open field in Honolulu, Jan. 11-14.

Woodland played in the 2023 Sony Open and missed the cut, but this time around will be a much bigger deal for the four-time Tour winner. Woodland last competed in the Wyndham Championship last August, where he tied for 27th.

Woodland, 39, posted on social media he had been trying to treat symptoms with medication but after consulting with specialists and his family he elected to have surgery.

Shortly after his surgery, the University of Kansas, where Woodland played college golf, renamed its facilities after him.

In November, he posted a video hitting practice balls, ending his message with “I look forward to seeing you all next year.”

Next year is here, and Woodland will be among the 144 golfers competing in the first full-field event of the new season.

Zalatoris also entered in Sony

On Friday afternoon, the PGA Tour released the full-field list, which also features Will Zalatoris. He finished last in the 20-man field at the Hero World Challenge a month ago. He missed most of last season after having back surgery in April, just days after withdrawing from the Masters ahead of the first round.

Here’s a look at the field for the 2024 Sony Open.