Before Woody Austin earned the nickname “Aquaman” for plunging head first into the chilly Canadian waters at last year’s President’s Cup, before he laughed at himself for his nationally televised watery dip, he had achieved another, more important goal.

Austin reserved a spot for himself at the 2008 Masters Tournament, ending a 12-year wait between Masters appearances, something more important to him than all the now funny nicknames and endlessly played video clips.

“When I thought about all the things I wanted to accomplish with my play last year, making the Masters field again was at the top of the list,” Austin said.

“When you make the Masters field, that’s really the big time; nobody can take that away from you,” he said.

The longtime PGA Tour veteran first earned his ’08 Masters invitation with a win in last year’s Memphis tournament, but the nearly nine month wait until his return this April at Augusta National Golf Club was hard to take.

“It’s just something I’m really looking forward to. There is no doubt about it. It was one of my main goals last year, and I’m glad to finally achieve it,” he said.

Austin, who missed the cut in 1996, is making the 2008 tournament field following the longest interval between appearances of any professional in this year’s field.

Only amateur Trip Kuehne from Dallas is coming from a longer Masters drought this year, returning for the first time since 1995.

Other players in this year’s field after a long absence include former Clemson star D.J. Trahan, who is back for the first time since 2001. Japan’s Toru Taniguchi is back for the first time since 2003, as is Dallas area native Hunter Mahan, who last played as an amateur and Steve Lowery, the 2008 winner at AT&T Pebble Beach.

Also back for the first time as a professional after playing as an amateur is Brandt Snedeker, who last played in competition at Augusta National in 2004.

“It was a lot of fun last time and very memorable so I can’t wait to get back,” said Snedeker. “Even though I played well, I still think I’ve improved and can play better.”

He earned the Silver Medal as the low amateur runner-up by making the 36-hole cut in 2004 with a tie for 41st.

“It will really be exciting to be back,” he added.

Nobody has waited longer than Kuehne, who will find his golfing career coming to a complete circle this year at Augusta National.

The last time he played as a competitor, he was coming off a highly memorable U.S. Amateur runner-up performance at TPC Sawgrass, where he let a large lead in the final match slip to a now familiar rally by then high schooler, Tiger Woods.

“I certainly helped the (Woods) legend grow that day,” Kuehne recalled.

He was, and still is, very good friends with Woods, and Tiger would often stay at Kuehne’s parent’s home when he was in North Texas.

When he arrives at Augusta this year, Kuehne, who never turned professional and works as a Dallas-area businessman, will find Woods as the four-time Masters champion and a favorite to win his fifth Green Jacket.

Since his last appearance, Kuehne’s brother Hank, has played at Augusta National as the U.S. Amateur champion, and now hopes to be on Trip’s bag as his caddie this year.

“I’m trying to keep it in the family,” Trip said.

Unlike his friend Woods, Kuehne doesn’t arrive this year expecting a victory at the Masters, but he does feel like he has some unfinished business with the course.

“It’s a lot longer than it was before when I played, but my goal is to make the cut and then do better on the weekend. I feel like I was there too long last time and played my tournament before the first round on Thursday. I was worn out.”

He shot rounds of 79 and 76.

Kuehne still plans to stay in the amateur’s Crow’s Nest accommodations for a couple of nights before moving into a rented house with his wife Dusti, who has never been to the Masters or Augusta National.

“It’s still the most special place in golf and I know it will be for her as well,” he said.

While he also missed the cut in his last appearance more than a decade ago, Austin at least took home more than just memories.

He still has the pair of crystal goblets which he was awarded for an eagle three on the par 5 15th hole on his second and final round at Augusta National.

“It’s been so long ago, I don’t remember much, but I know it’s a great course, probably a lot longer and tougher than when I played there last,” Austin said.

His rounds of 79 and 74 left him headed for home for the weekend in ‘96, but he’s happy to finally be back this year after the longest professional wait in the 2008 field.

“There are a lot of great memories and events, but it’s hard to top the Masters.”