For golf fans, few Presidents Cup moments are as unforgettable as Woody Austin’s famous 2007 splash. Playing for Team USA at Royal Montreal, Austin tried to hit a submerged ball from a greenside pond on the 14th hole, only to lose his balance and plunge face-first into the water. But rather than shy away from the moment, Austin embraced the mishap, showing up to the next tee with a pair of scuba goggles, courtesy of Barbara Nicklaus and his caddie. And just like that, golf’s “Aquaman” was born.
Fast forward to the 2024 Presidents Cup, and the stunt’s legend resurfaced when Johnson Wagner recreated Austin’s watery flop at Royal Montreal. Austin found it all pretty funny—but he couldn’t resist a little jab at Wagner’s effort. “He cheated,” Austin joked in a conversation with Wagner on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio. “The ball was not submerged in the water. He cheated.” Wagner fired back with a laugh, saying, “It’s not that I cheated. There was no way to get that ball out of the water, Woody!”
But there’s a lesser-known fact about that original moment: Barbara Nicklaus, wife of golf icon Jack Nicklaus, helped make the “goggles” stunt possible. According to Austin, it was Barbara and his caddie, Brent Henley, who conspired to pull the goggles out of the bag on the 15th tee, encouraging him to don them for a laugh. The move was a hit, and Austin’s teammates even autographed the goggles, which now hold a proud spot in his home.
So, did Wagner’s 2024 tribute do justice to Austin’s splash? Fans may still debate, but as far as Austin’s concerned, there’s only one Aquaman—and he’s got the autographed goggles to prove it.
