World No 31

Every once in a while, golf throws forth a journeyman pro who scares the game’s immortals. This year’s surprise package was Albert Woody Austin II, from Tampa in Florida, who had had one top20 finish in a major in 20 years as a professional before the US PGA at the Southern Hills Country Club, Oklahoma, this year. Austin came second by two strokes to Tiger Woods in the PGA after scoring a 67 in the final round. An invitation to Wentworth this week was soon in the post.

The road to Wentworth has been a winding one for Austin. Like many struggling professionals, he took part-time work in the off-season, in the supplies department for a pharmaceutical company. Having torn tendons in a knee during the 1987 tour qualifying school, Austin considered giving up the sport.

Austin has a degree in business administration, but some may wonder whether he has many brain cells left. At the Verizon Heritage event in 1997, Austin was seen to strike his head repeatedly with his putter. He hit so hard that the shaft of his putter bent.

“Everybody gets sidetracked,” Austin explained when asked why it had taken him so long to contend in a major. “There’s only a few that their lives go according to plan. Most of us have all those bumps and peaks and valleys. Unfortunately I had a few pretty big peaks and valleys, and it’s just taken me a little bit longer.”

Factfile

Age: 43 Nationality: American Wins: 3 Major wins: 0 Major record in 2007: Masters: did not compete; US Open: did not compete; Open: missed cut; US PGA: second How he qualified for World Match Play: Seventh on Major Championship ranking Previous WMP experience: None