TULSA, Okla. -- Woody Austin played better than Tiger Woods yesterday. Again.

Didn't have to lug around that big old Wanamaker Trophy when the tournament was over, either.

Austin finished second in the PGA Championship at Southern Hills, two strokes behind Woods after a final round in which he actually beat the world's best player by two.

Austin tied Woods Saturday and was three shots better than him in the first round Thursday. Austin insists he outplayed -- his words -- Woods Friday even though Woods tied the major scoring record with a 63. Austin said his 70 in the second round came only because he couldn't make a putt.

Revisionist history aside, it all added up to a two-stroke loss for the world's 75th-ranked player, which was still good for a $756,000 paycheck and a spot on the U.S. Presidents Cup team.

It was something to celebrate because of the way he held up throughout the tournament, especially yesterday when the pressure was the greatest. And something to lament because maybe it should have been better.

"To go out and play and perform like I did, I've got only good thoughts for myself, praise for myself," Austin said.

But, he said, "I can't help but think of the missed opportunities. I'm human."

This was the most interesting of coming-out parties for Austin, 43, who practically has the word "journeyman" stamped on the back of his tropical-print golf shirts. He earned his third PGA Tour win this year. He had never finished higher than 16th in a major.

It was strange to listen to him all week talking about how he played better than Woods, how he was disappointed with his scores even though they were keeping him near the lead, how nobody can hit shots as good as he does when he's on.

Maybe the strangest part was how he went out and showed everyone what he was talking about yesterday.

"I wanted to hear them," Austin said. "You always hear it for [Woods] and you hear it for yourself but the decibels are different. I wanted to hear it for me. I wanted him to know there was someone else out there."

That's how he is -- brash, unafraid. A bit nervous, too, but never willing to back down.

Simon says 64

Englishman Simon Dyson had been so worn down playing golf that he decided to take three weeks off before the PGA Championship. He came back thinking "a top 30 would have been a dream."

H easily surpassed that goal, shooting a 6-under 64 yesterday for the low round of the day to finish in a tie for sixth place.

"One of the best days I've had for a long time," said Dyson, who has won twice on the European Tour and four times on the Asian Tour.

Dyson carded the best front nine total of the week with a 4-under 31, then added three more birdies on the back nine. All that kept him from matching the major championship record of 63 was a three-putt for bogey on No. 10.

Pavin penalty

Corey Pavin's caddie moved a rake out of the way during an errant bunker shot at the par-3 sixth hole, allowing the ball to roll down a hill and into the water. Even though his action allowed Pavin's shot to enter the hazard instead of avoiding it, Pavin was still assessed a two-stroke penalty.

Pavin played another shot out of the bunker, then two-putted for an 8.

Low pro

Mike Small, University of Illinois golf coach, edged Ryan Benzel of Seattle by one stroke to finish as the top club professional in the field. Small, whose best round was 70 on Friday, had a 16-over 296 total. Benzel was 3 over after two rounds but ballooned to an 80 Saturday.