Austin steps up to give Tiger a scare

TULSA, Okla. -- Of all the candidates who might have ended one of the most impressive streaks in professional sports, Albert Woody Austin II might rank among the least likely.

Woody Austin shot 3 under on the back nine. (Getty Images)

Yet, for want of another putt here or there, the masochistic 43-year-old veteran nearly defeated Tiger Woods and pulled off one of the game's biggest upsets at a major championship in years.

Woods had won all 12 of the majors in which he had entered the final round with the lead, yet Austin turned the crowd in his favor and nearly stole the show at the 89th PGA Championship before finishing two shots short at 6-under-par.

Austin, a highly emotional player, has three victories on the PGA Tour, but he'd be fibbing if he said they felt better than the run he made at the world's No. 1 player on Sunday at Southern Hills Country Club.

Austin, as you might have figured out if you were watching the tournament all week, doesn't bend the truth. He only serves it up unvarnished, with splashes of hot sauce, cynicism, sarcasm and self-deprecation tossed in for flavoring.

"To be in this position for the first time and to actually give that good a run at it, I'd be crazy to say that it wasn't better than the victories," he said.

Austin closed with a 67 and at one point, had trimmed Woods' seemingly insurmountable five-shot into a one-stroke margin with birdies on three straight holes, starting on No. 11. Austin wisely turned into a cheerleader, exhorting the crowd and getting Woods' attention one hole behind him.

This time, emotion became Austin's ally. He rolled in a 50-footer for birdie on No. 12 and twice cupped is hand over his ear, driving the crowd into a noisy delirium intended to send a message to Woods that he was going to have to earn this trophy. Message received.

"How could you not hear it?" Woods laughed.

For a guy who had never before finished in the top 10 at a major, he was certainly enjoying the moment. By the 15th green, Austin had a putt to tie Woods, but the 12-footer slid past the cup. Ernie Els, who finished third, three shots back, also clawed within a shot of Woods on the back nine.

"I can't speak for other people, I can only speak for myself, but I think it's great that Ernie and I didn't let him just coast in," Austin said.

Amen to that. For once, Woods couldn't just downshift in his competitive gearbox and cruise home. A birdie on the 15th hole, however, reestablished Woods' two-shot lead and neither Austin or Els could pick up another shot over the club's difficult closing stretch.

Austin, who frequently beats himself up mentally for not playing to his perceived potential, was pleased considering he'd never before been in such a blazing majors spotlight.

"To be in this position for the first time, to go out and play the way I did, perform the way I did, I've got only good thoughts for myself," he said. "You know, it's so early being over, I can't help but think about the missed opportunities, too. I'm only human."

There was one rather notable consolation prize for the self-effacing runner-up –- he earned a spot on the Presidents Cup roster in September, his first berth in an international team match. Woods said somebody with Austin's drive, whether it occasionally borders on lunacy or not, might make a great teammate.

"Woody is fiery, he's competitive and that's what you need on those teams," Woods said.

Sunday, Woods himself almost got singed by Austin's intensity.