“Full Swing” Showrunner Takes You Behind the Scenes of Gary Woodland’s Emotional Episode

Gary Woodland is adored by fans, media members, and fellow players. He’s one of the true good guys on the PGA TOUR. So when he announced in September of 2023 that he had brain surgery to remove a tumor, the news hit hard.

Several months earlier, Woodland started experiencing hand tremors severe anxiety and debilitating negative thoughts. He continued to play 10 tournaments with these symptoms that were caused by a lesion pushing on the area his brain that causes fear. The following surgery came with high risks—there was a chance of Woodland losing his eyesight or becoming paralyzed on the left side of his body—and required a large incision that warranted 30 staples in his head to remove most of the lesion.

In season three of “Full Swing,” camera crews joined Gary during a trip to the doctor that revealed the encouraging diagnosis post-surgery.

Pat Dimon, the showrunner for FS, joined this week’s episode of Vanity Index Podcast to take us behind the scenes of that emotional and life-changing day. Grab your tissues.

“I’m there with Gary as he’s, you know, getting all the pre-test, everything done. I’m a mess. Gary’s pretty composed and I’m trying to walk the line of keep it serious, but keep it light and, you know, trying to let him do his thing and calm and focused." Dimon recalls.

“He gets the test done, and then we go back out and we wait 20 minutes for the doctor. I’m two feet from Gary’s face with a camera as this doctor walks in. Luckily, as you guys all saw in the episode, the diagnosis was positive.

“I was behind the camera just trying to not cry out of happiness.”

Woodland's recovery trended even more positively and he returned to the PGA TOUR four months later at the 2024 Sony Open.

Dimon also takes us behind the scenes of Justin Rose’s run at the Open and more. Plus, co-hosts Chad Mumm and Wells Adams discuss the best courses to play around Augusta National and the IYKYK aspects of the Masters.

You can listen to Vanity Index on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.