In case you missed it, the U.S. Open is going to a fifth day on Monday as Tiger Woods hit a 12-foot birdie putt (that nearly missed the hole) on the 18th hole to force a playoff with 45-year-old Rocco Mediate.
It was another memorable fourth round on Sunday. Tiger entered up a shot, but after a double bogey and bogey on the first two holes, it opened the tournament for someone like Mediate to swipe it from him. Mediate had a couple chances in the final holes to put it away, but he just couldn’t pull it out, and Tiger, wincing and limping from pain throughout the day, made the big birdie putt just moments after Lee Westwood missed his own to force a tie.
I’m a big Tiger Woods fan, have been since before he came onto the tour. But if there’s one Major championship I wouldn’t mind him losing, it’s this U.S. Open. The reason is two words: Rocco Mediate. What a nice guy he has been these last couple days, talking about how much it would mean to him to win, complimenting his opponents, smiling, laughing on the course, having fun. It’s likely the only chance he’s going to have to win a Major; at 45, he’d already be the oldest man to win the U.S. Open, and it’s hard seeing him back in this position again.
The tiebreak round will be broadcast from 12pm-2pm E.T. on ESPN, then it’ll move to NBC for the conclusion (sorry to those Days of Our Lives fans). -Cyd Zeigler jr.
on Jun 16th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Well, Rocco’s wearing a red shirt. Interesting!
on Jun 16th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I’m just sooooo tired of the media treating Tiger Woods like he’s the second coming of Christ. Yeah, he can play golf. We got that. He can also shill watches, cars and sports drinks. We got that too.
on Jun 16th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
His play on 3 holes Saturday was staggering. Other than that he just played ok golf, but look at him go. He makes plays when he needs to.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=p4JI1_iUJRQ