[limpalong]

This guy is quite a story. He's worked as a bank teller, sold cars, done whatever it takes to keep his dream of playing professional golf alive. His internal demons... quick temper... constant berating of himself... have kept him from really excelling at that dream.

With his quick temper, witnessed by his breaking of the putter over his head, I've often thought of the day that the bank where he worked might be robbed. Can you imagine some klutz, drugged out bank robber walking up to Austin's teller cage and demanding money? I could see Woody crawl over the counter, take away the robber's gun and shove it right up where the sun don't shine.

Woody was the fire that kept the American team alive. Woody was the magic in what could have, otherwise, been a pretty boring weekend of golf on television. All Miller wanted to do was his usual applauding of TW. Everytime someone would bring up how Woody's stepping up was driving the entire American team, Miller seemed to make another TW comment. Yet, by Sunday afternoon, even Miller was involved in the Woody excitment.

This guy was living the dream, but was allowing Verplank and Glover and CHIII and Mahan to also grab hold of what team play should be about. Woody carried the audience and the team right up until the match between TW and Weir. Mike Weir also stole some of the spotlight in his duel with TW. What a great match. Neither one would give it up. Neither one would bend. The Weir/TW match kept everyone setting on the edge of their chair.

Overall, it was a great weekend of golf. Woody Austin brought the game and the pursuit of a dream home to each and every one of us. Keep working hard. Keep doing whatever is necessary. Never give up. Almost 10 years older than anyone else on the team... Never before included in President's Cup or Ryder Cup team events... Woody Austin brought his love of the game right into my living room.