Were you among the majority of us pulling for Rocco Mediate to win the U.S. Open on Monday at Torrey Pines?
Tiger Woods has had his (14) days in the sun; winning 14 major tournaments now.
Rocco was bidding to become the oldest golfer ever at age 45 to win a major. He had not won in 138 starts and was ranked No. 158 in the world before jumping to No. 47 after the U.S. Open.
Even though this will always be remembered as Tiger’s 14th major, some of us will never forget it as the tournament when Rocco became a fan favorite over Tiger.
Here’s more from espn.com:
It capped a remarkable week for the world's No. 1 player, who had not played since April 15 surgery on his left knee and looked as though every step was a burden. But the knee held up for 91 holes, and the payoff was worth the pain, even if doctors had warned him that he risked further injury by playing the Open.
"I'm glad I'm done," Woods said. "I really don't feel like playing anymore. It's sore."
Woods joins Jack Nicklaus as the only players to capture the career Grand Slam three times over.
Mediate's odyssey began two weeks ago when he had to survive a sudden-death playoff simply to qualify for this U.S. Open. Even more unlikely was going toe-to-toe with Woods -- whom Mediate referred to as a "monster" -- and nearly slaying him.
He had a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to win, but it slid by on the left.
Mediate struggled to keep his emotions after taking bogey on the first extra hole, but he walked off Torrey Pines with 12,000 new friends who crammed both sides of every fairway for a playoff that was tighter than anyone imagined.
"Obviously, I would have loved to win," he said. "I don't know what else to say. They wanted a show, they got one."
Did they ever.
From the opening tee shot Thursday in a light fog known as "June Gloom," this U.S. Open simply shined.
"This is probably the greatest tournament I've ever had," Woods said.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Yeah, I sure wish Rocco could have won. He left it all out on the course. He should be proud, and Tiger should consider himself lucky to win.
If Mediate had of won the U.S. Open would that have been a true Cinderella story or what. To go from his ranking to winning the Open against the greatest golfer in our time in a playoff well; Hollywood could not have written a better script. But unfortunately we live in the real world where talent normally wins over emotion and good wishes but would not of it been nice to see this 45 year old become the oldest person to win a major? However, I bet he will enjoy the paycheck.
Post a Comment