Woody Austin Bio
Albert Woody Austin II (born January 27, 1964) is an American professional golfer who spent the majority of his career on the PGA Tour before moving to the PGA Tour Champions. Known to fans by his nickname Aquaman, Austin built a reputation as a steady ball striker whose best major championship finish was a runner-up result at the 2007 PGA Championship. Over the course of his career, he has won four events on the PGA Tour and four more on the PGA Tour Champions, with three additional professional victories elsewhere.
Early Life and Background
Albert Woody Austin II was born in Tampa, Florida, and grew up in the same region where he first picked up the game of golf. He attended George D. Chamberlain High School in Tampa, where he graduated in 1982 and was recognized as the best golf player in his conference. That high school distinction gave him early visibility as one of the most promising young amateur players in the area.
After completing high school, Austin continued his education and his golf at the University of Miami. He was a member of the university golf team during his collegiate years and graduated in 1986 with a degree in business administration. His time at the University of Miami gave him the competitive foundation he would later lean on when he turned professional later that same year.
Path to Golf
Austin’s path to a professional golf career began with strong amateur showings in Florida and at the University of Miami, where his college schedule sharpened his competitive routine. His conference-level recognition in high school, followed by years on a top collegiate golf team, helped him transition into the professional ranks shortly after graduation. By the time he turned professional in 1986, Austin had already built the kind of resume that positioned him to chase status on developmental and main tours.
He spent several seasons working his way up through professional golf, with his breakthrough moment coming in 1995 when he was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. That same season produced his first PGA Tour title, signaling that he had arrived as a regular contender on the game’s biggest stage. From there, Austin’s career arc included signature wins, major championship moments, and a later-career shift to senior competition.
Woody Austin Career
Early Career (1986–1994)
After turning professional in 1986, Albert Woody Austin II spent several years competing on smaller professional circuits as he worked toward a full PGA Tour card. His amateur pedigree and college experience gave him a steady platform, but he needed time to translate that foundation into regular tour status. By the early 1990s he was knocking on the door of full-time PGA Tour play, building the kind of consistency that eventually opened the door to his rookie season.
That patience paid off when Austin earned his PGA Tour card and stepped into the 1995 season as a rookie. The year marked the start of his long run among the Tour’s regular competitors and set the stage for the first signature victory of his professional career.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (1995–2013)
Austin’s PGA Tour breakthrough arrived in 1995, when he captured the Buick Open and was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. The win established him as a player capable of contending, and he continued to refine his game over the following seasons. A second victory came in 2004 at the Buick Championship, reinforcing that his early success was no fluke.
The peak of his PGA Tour career came in 2007, a season that produced his third victory at the Stanford St. Jude Championship, highlighted by a final-round 62. That same year he finished second to Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship at Southern Hills, the best major championship finish of his career. The runner-up result pushed him into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings, and he later reached a career-high ranking of 29th in 2008. During the 2007 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal, Austin famously fell into a pond while attempting a shot with one foot in the water, an incident that earned him the lasting nickname Aquaman.
After several seasons of limited starts as a past champion, Austin returned to the winner’s circle at the 2013 Sanderson Farms Championship. The win made him the eighth-oldest winner in PGA Tour history at the time, trailing only Raymond Floyd among that group. Despite earning his tour card through 2015, Austin chose to shift his focus to the PGA Tour Champions, where he continued to add to his professional resume.
PGA Tour Champions Era (2016–Present)
Austin’s senior career began in earnest in March 2016, when he won the Tucson Conquistadores Classic by one stroke for his maiden PGA Tour Champions title. He added two more senior victories later that same year, signaling a smooth transition to the over-50 circuit. The early Champions success showed that his game had adapted well to the senior game’s demands.
His fourth PGA Tour Champions win came on October 21, 2018, at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. He closed with a three-under-par 69 on a cool day at The Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, recording his first senior victory since 2016. The win added another layer to his senior resume and kept him among the more consistent Champions competitors of his era.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his wins, Austin is remembered for several signature moments that shaped his public image. His 1997 intentional head strike with a bent-shaft putter during the Verizon Heritage became one of the tour’s most talked-about viral moments, and his 2007 plunge into a Presidents Cup pond produced the Aquaman nickname. In 2015, he received a four-stroke penalty at the PGA Championship for carrying fifteen clubs in his bag, narrowly missing the cut by one stroke, a reminder of how thin the margins remain at the highest level.
Woody Austin Career Wins
Across his professional career, Albert Woody Austin II has compiled 11 professional wins in total, with four on the PGA Tour, four on the PGA Tour Champions, and three on other tours. His victories span more than two decades, beginning with the 1995 Buick Open and continuing through his 2018 Dominion Energy Charity Classic. That longevity has made him one of the more durable American professionals of his generation.
PGA Tour Highlights
Austin won four times on the PGA Tour, with his first victory coming at the 1995 Buick Open. He added the Buick Championship in 2004 and the Stanford St. Jude Championship in 2007, where he fired a final-round 62. His most recent PGA Tour title came at the 2013 Sanderson Farms Championship, his first tour win in six years and a victory that made him the eighth-oldest winner in Tour history at the time.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his PGA Tour victories, Austin has added four wins on the PGA Tour Champions and additional wins on other circuits, including developmental and international events. His Champions success has been headlined by the 2016 Tucson Conquistadores Classic and the 2018 Dominion Energy Charity Classic. These senior wins have helped him stay competitive well into his fifties and added to his reputation as a reliable weekend contender.
Woody Austin Family
Personal Life
Albert Woody Austin II lives in Derby, Kansas, where he has settled after years on the road as a touring professional. Derby, a community south of Wichita, has served as his home base during the later stages of his career. Public details about his broader personal and family life remain limited, and he has generally kept those matters private.
2025 Season Performance
As the 2025 PGA Tour Champions season unfolds, Albert Woody Austin II continues to compete regularly on the over-50 circuit, where his four senior wins provide a strong platform. His recent form on the Champions tour has reflected the experience that comes with more than three decades as a professional. With exempt status earned through past senior victories, Austin is positioned to remain a regular presence in Champions events throughout the calendar year.
His role on tour in 2025 has shifted more toward veteran leadership, with a schedule built around events where his ball-striking fits the course setup. A strong showing in any week could push him back into contention and potentially add to his four PGA Tour Champions titles. Even without a fifth senior win, consistent made cuts and top finishes would extend one of the longer professional careers in American golf.