Two months after he shot 62 to win the Stanford St. Judge Championship, Austin made a serious run at the PGA Championship, where he made as much news in front of microphone as he did on the golf course. He was lampooned for saying that he outplayed Tiger Woods the day Woods shot a record-tying 63 (Austin shot 70). But he finished second at Southern Hills, and that was enough for Austin to earn the 10th and final spot on the Presidents Cup team.

Then came the clutch putts, the comical plunge, the relentless ribbing and the instant celebrity.

“He worked so hard to get here. He’s worked hard all his life,” his wife, Shannon, said as she watched him play his final match. “You dream about moments like this, but when it happens, it just takes your breath away.”

Austin says he won’t let it get to his head, and he figured the verbal abuse he took from his own teammates at Royal Montreal surely will keep him grounded.

“I’m the screwball no matter what,” he said.

But he also reflected on the relationships that were built at the Presidents Cup, and that seemed to mean more to him than anything. One week he was another face on the PGA Tour, the next week he was in a circle of friends that included Nicklaus, Woods and Mickelson.

“If it all comes to a close for me at this juncture, I couldn’t have asked for a better week,” Austin said. “If it continues, I’m going to busy my butt to get into another one, because it’s been a blast-and-a-half.”

He didn’t lose until Sunday singles, but by then, he had earned more respect than he ever imagined. Nicklaus put him in the fifth match, privately hopeful that Austin would deliver the point that clinched the Presidents Cup.

The PGA Tour is about to air a commercial that congratulates the U.S. team winning the cup, and it details a recipe for success that includes sportsmanship, competition, great shots and a splash of Woody.

Two months changed his life, but odds are it won’t change Austin.

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He leads a simple life in his adopted home of Derby, Kan., where he met his wife. She was a hairstylist whose client was trying to qualify for the Nike Tour event in town, so she went out to watch and was introduced to Austin. They have been together ever since.

“He always knew he could play the game at this level,” she said. “It was just surreal sitting there with Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. He’s never had more fun than he’s had this week.”

Austin isn’t treated like a celebrity at home, not even in their bowling league. Shannon Austin isn’t sure how much that will change, although with the “Aquaman” hats, she didn’t expect the ribbing to stop when he got home.

“I’m sure they’ll have some fun with him,” she said.

Do they have a pool?

“No,” she said with a smile. “But we have a pond.”

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