Austin becomes Presidents Cup rookie after hot streak
 
Sep. 19, 2007

Woody Austin is getting ready to work on his match play skils.

Austin's second-place finish at the 89th PGA Championship vaulted him from 18th to 10th in the standings for the U.S. Team. Appleby, who was 12th in the International Team standings at the start of the week, also moved to 10th with his tie for 12th at Southern Hills.

"That makes me real happy because I've always wanted to be in one of those things," Austin said. "I think my personality suits that kind of competition. ... I like the mano-a-mano, one-on-one, look you in the eye (competition) as opposed to coming out at 8 o'clock and the other guy comes out at 3.

"I like looking right at you when I'm playing you, and I think that's going to be a lot of fun."

Tiger Woods, who beat Austin by two strokes at Southern Hills on Sunday, thinks Austin will be a good addition to the U.S. Team. The other eight automatic qualifiers are Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson, Charles Howell III, Scott Verplank, David Toms, Steve Stricker and Stewart Cink.

"Woody is fiery," Woods said. "He's competitive and I think that's what you need on those teams. You need someone that will get out there and give it his best, .... give his heart and soul in each and every round. And being so emotional, I think that's a good thing in team events. It adds to a team. It gets everyone more fired up and I think he will certainly enhance the team."

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