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Before nearly beating the world’s best golfer at last year’s PGA Championship, Woody Austin was a master of intergalactic warfare.

Austin was a Little League all-star in Tampa, Fla., his highlight a hard-hit single up the middle off future Cy Young Award winner Dwight Gooden. Austin still competes in softball and basketball leagues at home in Derby, Kan.

“He’s what we call in South Africa ‘an all-arounder,’ ” said former PGA Tour player Ronnie McCann, Austin’s college roommate. “Last year’s PGA Championship, where he finished two shots behind Tiger Woods, gave Austin a taste of stardom. I feel I played well enough to win.”

For a ballstriker such as Austin, many rounds are full of frustration as another birdie opportunity slides by the hole.

Austin made the most of his time in the spotlight at Southern Hills. Austin’s honesty gave his Q-rating a big boost. “What you see now with Woody is what he’s always been,” said former Miami teammate Tom Hearn, who played the PGA Tour and is now a Nationwide Tour rules official. Austin, 44, returns to the PGA Championship Aug. 7-10 at Oakland Hills Country Club. This year, Austin is 19th on Tour in greens in regulation but is 166th in putts per GIR.

The PGA also is the final week to earn points for the U.S. Ryder Cup team standings. Austin was 10th on the list after the British Open. “(The Ryder Cup) would kind of put a cap on the career,” Austin said. “I can say I’m a multiple Tour winner; I’ve stayed out here a long time; I’ve played the Presidents Cup; I’ve been in the top 40 in the world rankings for a good part of this year. Austin has won three PGA Tour events, most recently at last year’s Stanford St. Jude Championship after a final-round 62. Austin played along with the gag, sporting a snorkel mask during his singles match. Austin isn’t afraid to share his opinion. “We live in such an excuse-oriented society,” Austin said. It took Austin eight years to make it to the Nationwide Tour after graduating from Miami in 1986.