TULSA, Okla. -- In a little more than a month, PGA champion Tiger Woods and Woody Austin -- his main rival for the title Sunday -- will be teammates. Austin's runner-up finish gave him a spot on the U.S. Presidents Cup team for next month's matches in Canada.
''My personality suits that kind of competition,'' Austin said. ''I'd like to think that my personality is a lot like Tiger's, very out there, very emotional. I like the mano-a-mano, one-on-one, look you in the eye. I like looking right at you when I'm playing you.''
Woods does, too, and welcomes Austin to the team for the first time.
''Woody's fiery. He's competitive. That's what you need on those teams,'' Woods said. ''He will certainly enhance the team.''
Austin's competitive record doesn't compare with Woods', but Austin insists on drawing comparisons with the game's top player.
''I have the almost identical personality in a way that he does,'' Austin said. ''He always says, 'I want to be in the last group on Sunday.' I want to be there just as much as he does.''
Austin was disappointed that he wasn't paired with Woods in the final round. He made a run at him with three straight birdies early on the back nine, then couldn't make another. He insists that his round of 70 on Friday was better than Woods' course-record 63 that day, and that made him mad.
''I went over his round and over my round, and I outplayed him from tee to green,'' Austin said. ''Seven shots I gave up in one round. A person in my position cannot give that man that much cushion. That's why I was disappointed, and that's why I came up short.''
Austin outscored Woods 67 to 69 in the final round. At 43, he believes he might be a better overall player than he was at 32, but he has had to fight some personal demons.
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''My personality suits that kind of competition,'' Austin said. ''I'd like to think that my personality is a lot like Tiger's, very out there, very emotional. I like the mano-a-mano, one-on-one, look you in the eye. I like looking right at you when I'm playing you.''
Woods does, too, and welcomes Austin to the team for the first time.
''Woody's fiery. He's competitive. That's what you need on those teams,'' Woods said. ''He will certainly enhance the team.''
Austin's competitive record doesn't compare with Woods', but Austin insists on drawing comparisons with the game's top player.
''I have the almost identical personality in a way that he does,'' Austin said. ''He always says, 'I want to be in the last group on Sunday.' I want to be there just as much as he does.''
Austin was disappointed that he wasn't paired with Woods in the final round. He made a run at him with three straight birdies early on the back nine, then couldn't make another. He insists that his round of 70 on Friday was better than Woods' course-record 63 that day, and that made him mad.
''I went over his round and over my round, and I outplayed him from tee to green,'' Austin said. ''Seven shots I gave up in one round. A person in my position cannot give that man that much cushion. That's why I was disappointed, and that's why I came up short.''
Austin outscored Woods 67 to 69 in the final round. At 43, he believes he might be a better overall player than he was at 32, but he has had to fight some personal demons.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
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