Woody Austin Bio
Albert Woody Austin II (born January 27, 1964) is an American professional golfer who spent the bulk of his career on the PGA Tour and now plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He turned professional in 1986 and built a reputation as a fiery, expressive competitor known as much for his putting tantrums and colorful personality as for his shot-making. Over nearly four decades, Austin has captured four PGA Tour titles and four PGA Tour Champions titles, compiling one of the more distinctive résumés in American golf.
Early Life and Background
Woody Austin was born in Tampa, Florida, and grew up in a region with a deep appreciation for outdoor sports. He attended George D. Chamberlain High School, where he graduated in 1982 and was recognized as the best golf player in his conference. That early recognition foreshadowed a career that would eventually take him to some of the most storied courses in professional golf.
After high school, Austin enrolled at the University of Miami, where he joined the collegiate golf team and refined his game against strong national competition. He graduated in 1986 with a degree in Business Administration, the same year he chose to leave the amateur ranks and turn professional. His time at Miami gave him both the technical foundation and the competitive toughness that would carry him through the early years of mini-tour golf.
Path to Professional Golf
Coming out of the University of Miami in 1986, Austin began his professional career on the developmental circuits, grinding through smaller events as he pursued full status on the PGA Tour. Those years demanded patience and resilience, and Austin used the time to sharpen a competitive style built on accuracy and a creative short game. By the early 1990s, his consistency earned him a full PGA Tour card, setting the stage for his breakthrough season.
In 1995, Austin announced himself as a major talent by capturing the Buick Open for his first PGA Tour victory. That same year, he was named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, a rare honor for a player who had spent nearly a decade working his way up through the professional ranks. The award validated the slow build and confirmed that Austin belonged among the tour’s elite competitors.
Woody Austin Career
Early Career (1986–1994)
After turning professional in 1986, Austin spent the better part of a decade on mini-tours and the Nike Tour, working to earn his way onto the PGA Tour. He made limited starts and learned to manage the travel, the pressure, and the financial realities of life as a developing professional. Persistence paid off, and by the mid-1990s he had earned full status and was ready to compete at the highest level in the United States.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (1995–2007)
Austin’s first PGA Tour victory came at the 1995 Buick Open, a performance that also earned him PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors. That breakthrough launched a steady run of solid seasons in which he became a familiar name in contention, even as he waited nearly a decade for his next win. The drought ended in 2004 when he captured the Buick Championship, reminding the golf world that his game remained dangerous when put together.
The high point of his PGA Tour career came in 2007, a year that produced both triumph and headlines. Austin won the Stanford St. Jude Championship with a blistering final-round 62, his third Tour title. Later that summer, he finished second at the PGA Championship behind Tiger Woods, his best finish in a major championship, and cracked the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings. The same season, at the Presidents Cup, his shot from the water’s edge led to the famous splash into the pond and his lasting nickname “Aquaman.” That week he also wore swimming goggles during a singles match against Ángel Cabrera, cementing his reputation for showmanship.
PGA Tour Champions Era (2013–Present)
After years of fighting for limited status as a past champion, Austin broke through again in 2013 with a win at the Sanderson Farms Championship. At that victory, he became the eighth-oldest winner in PGA Tour history, trailing only Raymond Floyd in that category. Despite the win earning him a tour card through 2015, Austin chose to redirect his focus to the PGA Tour Champions, where he found a more comfortable competitive schedule.
In March 2016, Austin won his maiden title on the PGA Tour Champions at the Tucson Conquistadores Classic, holding on for a one-stroke victory. He added two more Champions titles later that year, quickly establishing himself as a regular contender on the senior circuit. On October 21, 2018, Austin captured the Dominion Energy Charity Classic at The Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, closing with a three-under-par 69 for his fourth senior victory and his first Champions title since 2016.
Driving Style and Strengths
Austin has long been known as a creative shot-maker whose strengths show up most clearly around the greens. His iron play has historically been his most reliable weapon, and he pairs it with an imaginative short game that allows him to recover from awkward lies. He is equally famous for the emotion he brings to the course, channeling intensity into focus even when results swing against him.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his victories, Austin owns some of the most memorable moments in modern PGA Tour history. His head-first tantrum with his putter at the 1997 Verizon Heritage and his splash into the pond at the 2007 Presidents Cup have made him a folk hero among fans. His second-place finish at the 2007 PGA Championship and his 2013 Sanderson Farms win, which made him the eighth-oldest winner in Tour history, round out a career defined as much by personality as by performance.
Woody Austin Career Wins
Woody Austin has recorded four PGA Tour victories and four PGA Tour Champions titles across a professional career that began in 1986. His wins span more than two decades and reflect a player who rebuilt his game several times to remain competitive at the highest level.
PGA Tour Highlights
Austin’s first PGA Tour title came at the 1995 Buick Open, the same year he earned PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors. He added the Buick Championship in 2004 and the Stanford St. Jude Championship in 2007, where his final-round 62 produced one of the most electric finishes of his career. His most recent PGA Tour victory came at the 2013 Sanderson Farms Championship, where at age 49 he became the eighth-oldest winner in Tour history.
PGA Tour Champions Highlights
Austin opened his Champions account at the 2016 Tucson Conquistadores Classic and went on to add two more titles that same season. His fourth Champions victory came at the 2018 Dominion Energy Charity Classic, his first senior win since 2016. These results confirmed that his game translated well to senior competition.
Woody Austin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Woody Austin’s parents and extended family remain limited, and he has not shared extensive information about his upbringing beyond his Tampa, Florida roots and his high school years at George D. Chamberlain High School.
Personal Life
Austin makes his home in Derby, Kansas, where he has settled after decades of travel on the professional golf circuit. He graduated from the University of Miami in 1986 with a degree in Business Administration, a credential that has helped him manage the business side of a long professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Woody Austin continued his commitment to the PGA Tour Champions in 2025, competing in a schedule designed to keep him fresh for the events that suit his game. His experience on the senior circuit, built around a disciplined iron game and a reliable short game, has kept him in regular contention. The early months of the season offered a chance to build momentum heading into the senior major championships later in the year.
Austin’s focus in 2025 has been on consistency rather than volume, picking spots that fit his eye and his travel preferences. With four Champions titles already on his résumé, including his most recent win at the 2018 Dominion Energy Charity Classic, he remains within striking distance of further milestones on the over-50 circuit. His veteran presence and competitive fire continue to make him a respected figure in the Champions locker room.