U.S. Open Playoff: Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods

U.S. Open Playoff: Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods More drama at the Torrey Pines, thanks to an amazing birdie Tiger Woods has pushed the 2008 U.S. Open to a playoff against Rocco Mediate. Tiger Woods got a 12-foot birdie putt that curled into the right side of the cup on the 18th hole to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate, who was tasting the sweet victory from the clubhouse. Rocco Mediate at age 45 was shooting for the oldest champion, but Woods was right on target on the 18th for yet another rebound. Both Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods finished the final round of the U.S. Open with one under par and Lee Westwood failed to deliver, finishing the tournament on par as No.3. And it is once again Tiger Woods coming from the back to force an U.S. Open playoff, results pending.

About Rocco Mediate: In 1991 he became the first player to win on the PGA Tour using a long putter when he won the Doral-Ryder Open. He picked up another victory at the 1993 KMart Greater Greensboro Open, but he then had a long layoff due to a ruptured disk. Mediate returned to the Tour in 1996 playing under a special medical extension and performed steadily. He picked up wins on the Tour in 1999, 2000 and 2002. After improving his fitness to minimize his back problems, he returned to using a conventional putter in 2003.He has featured in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Rankings. At the 2006 Masters, Mediate was in contention to win the event on the final day until he took a septuple-bogey ten on the par three 12th hole.

Published on 06/15/2008