BIOGRAPHY: WOODY AUSTIN

Woody Austin experienced his best season in 2007 with a victory at the Stanford St. Jude Championship, a runner-up in the PGA Championship and earnings of more than $2.8 million.

Austin recorded the best round of the year with an 8-under-par 62 during the final round of the St. Jude. He entered the final round four strokes behind and ended the day with a five-stroke victory for the third of his career and first since 2004.

Three weeks after winning the St. Jude, Austin finished tied for second at the Buick Open, an event he won in 1995. He was one stroke behind Sandler Golf teammate Brian Bateman, who won for the first time in his career. A bit of trivia–Austin earned a Buick Riviera for his victory in 1995 and still owns the car today. He says the vehicle is in excellent shape with around 37,000 miles.

Perhaps just as satisfying as his victory at St. Jude was his second-place showing at the PGA Championship at Southern Hills. Tiger Woods beat Austin by two strokes, but the Sandler Golf team member was within a single stroke for several holes in the back nine. Austin shot a 67 in the final round and was the only player to register all four rounds at par or better.

Austin capped off the year with an appearance at The Presidents Cup, his first national team competition. He posted a 1-1-3 record.

The Tampa Bay, Fla., native has overcome many obstacles during his career. He tore tendons and cartilage in his left knee during the 1987 Qualifying Tournament that sidelined him for two years. Austin originally injured the knee when he was 11 years old playing Little League Baseball. He has worked as a credit union teller during the offseason and in the supplies department at Eckerd Drug.

Austin turned pro in 1986, the same year he earned a business administration degree from the University of Miami.

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