Woody Austin

On Sunday 2013 July 30, American Woody Austin won his fourth PGA title on the eve of his retirement at the Sanderson Farms Championship. This player profile takes a look at Austin’s professional career as he prepared to join the Champion’s Tour in the 2014 season.

49-year-old Austin was born in 1964 in Tampa, Florida. Growing up in the golf-crazy Sunshine State, with its excellent weather, Austin had ample opportunity to discover the game of golf – his decision to take up professional golf came in his late teens, prior to his enrolment at the University of Miami.

During his college years, Austin played on the University of Miami Golf Team and was coached by Norman C. Parsons Jnr. He turned professional following his graduation in 1986.

Since his professional debut, Austin has won four events the on the US PGA Tour. Although his list of victories is shorter than those of his better-known colleagues, Woody Austin has provided fans with many unforgettable moments on the golf course.

His humour and sometimes eccentric behaviour have endeared him to fans in North America, with the galleries at his four tournament wins exploding with applause for this loveable PGA Tour personality.

Austin’s first win came at the 1995 Buick Open when he beat Mike Brisky in a playoff for the trophy. Almost a decade later, he repeated this victory at the renamed Buick Championship in another playoff against Tim Herron. Austin’s only victory on the PGA Tour that did not involve a playoff was the 2007 St. Jude Championship, where he beat England’s Brian Davis by an impressive five strokes for the title.

Austin’s humorous antics have added a great deal of colour to the PGA Tour. During the 2007 Verizon Heritage, the American hit his head with his own putter so hard that the shaft broke. On another occasion during the 2007 Presidents Cup, he fell into a nearby pond while making a shot with one of his feet in the water.

As Austin retires from the PGA Tour this year, he leaves a legacy of four wins and many light-hearted moments that will be remembered by his fans and fellow-players alike.

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