Island Packet Verizon Heritage 2008 Coverage | Harbour Town, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, SC

By JUSTIN JARRETT
jjarrett@islandpacket.com
843-706-8120

If Woody Austin can do anything about it, he’ll be on the U.S. Ryder Cup team this fall. Just don’t expect to see him sporting scuba gear.

“That was a once-in-a-lifetime deal,” Austin said. “I won’t even be talked into something like that again by my caddy. That was a once-in-a-lifetime deal.”

The 44-year-old made a big ... umm ... splash at the Presidents Cup last October, when his “Aquaman” antics kept the crowd entertained and his golf game helped the United States retain the cup.

Austin fell in love with match play that week, and he’s determined to earn a spot on this year’s U.S. team.

“I want to make that Ryder Cup team,” Austin said. “I had so much fun at that President’s Cup, I want to be on that Ryder Cup team. That’s first and foremost, and if I accomplish that, then everything else is going to fall into place.”

Austin again proved his match play chops at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, where he made the quarterfinals before bowing to Henrik Stenson. He also finished in the top 20 at the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month, but Austin says he isn’t happy with his play so far this season. He attributes some of his early-season struggles to living in Derby, Kan., where cold weather makes golf difficult in January and February.

“The biggest thing for me is I just need some more preparation,” Austin said. “It’s a struggle early in the year for me to get to practice at home, so the only time I get to practice is when I’m at the tournament. And that’s not really good to come to the tournament to practice. That’s been the hardest part.”

For now, Austin is keeping his goals simple.

“Pretty much the same goal as always, I just want to find my game this time of year,” Austin said.

Harbour Town Golf Links could be just the place to find it. Austin’s streak of five consecutive cuts made here was snapped last year, but he has a history of Heritage success, including a runner-up finish in 2003, when he lost in a playoff to Davis Love III.

“That’s my favorite place, because the long-ball hitters actually have to try and learn to play golf,” Austin said. “I love that place. It’s a ball-striker’s paradise.”