Written by Dave Homsher on Monday, 16 June 2008 Category:Sports Hits:4325

Yesterday, in the final round of the US Open, Tiger Woods came to 18, down 1 shot, and promptly dumped one into the fairway bunker.  He followed that up with a layup into the rough worthy of my golf game.  However, what came after was something for the ages.  Tiger GOUGED one out of the deep stuff to 12 feet, and then dropped in one of the most clutch putts in the history of the PGA to force an 18 hole playoff. 

Tiger came up with another HUGE putt to force a playoff

Rocco Mediate deserves a paragraph of his own.  This guy is 158th in the world.  He has more fun on the golf course than anyone I’ve ever seen.  The guy next door shot an INCREDIBLY PRECISE round which matched a week of precision from Rocco.  One of the most likeable guys to come across the sports landscape in quite some time will be going up against the greatest player of all time.  For the first time in recent memory, I found myself rooting not just for Tiger, but for someone else as well.  I was rooting for both of them to play well, and I’ll be rooting for more of the same on Monday. 

In honor of this David vs. Goliath matchup, I’ve decided on completing the first ever manrants running diary. 

1st hole

Rocco has won the honor to tee of first and STRIPED one right down the middle.  That’s a good sign for Rocco.  If he plays his game, and continues to hit fairways and greens, he’s going to give himself a chance. 

Tiger hits one to the right but gets a GREAT bounce back into the fairway for a lucky break.  Tiger has gotten more lucky breaks in this tournament than I have ever seen him get before.  He should have lost by 5 or 6 shots, but he’s still playing.  If that continues today, Rocco has no chance. 

Rocco’s par putt on the first hole reminded me of Sergio Garcia.  Not good.  Tiger already has a 1 shot lead. 

2nd hole

Both guys managed to drive the ball about as straight as Richard Simmons.  Good luck hitting out of the rough on those ones. 

2 very, very tough par putts go in.  That’s a good sign, especially for Rocco.  Hopefully the jitters are gone for him. 

3rd hole

Tiger is EFFED.  His ball couldn’t have buried more if a mole burrrowed a hole for it.  HOLY COW!!! Rocco almost CASHED his tee shot.  WHAT A SHOT!

Tiger it’s a great bunker shot but ends up with bogey anyway.  Rocco taps in for birdie.  2 shot swing.  Rocco takes the lead!!

4th hole

The two tie with pars at 4. 

5th hole

Rocco’s approach bounces off the cart path and shows some serious Michael Jordan hops headed onto the wrong whole.  With Tiger safely on the green, we could have another 2 shot swing. 

Rocco just misses and has to drop a shot with a bogey.  Tiger also just misses, but is able to knock it in for a par.  All square through 5.  Both players are currently +1 on their round.

This has got the feeling of a match that should be close all the way to the end.  Neither player is playing great, but both are certainly hitting enough good shots to keep in contention. 

6th hole

Fairway, green, putt, birdie.  Tiger never misses those.  That’s why he’s Tiger.  Rocco manages to make a tough par.  Tiger leads by 1. 

7th hole

As the announcer stated, “you could put a Walmart” between Tiger and Rocco’s tee shots.  If Tiger keeps hitting fairways like he has on 6 and 7, he’s going to run away with the US Open.  Note:  Rocco is hitting 6 iron, and Tiger is hitting pitching wedge into the green. 

Tiger swishes one like an old school Reggie Miller jump shot.  If he gets a 3 shot lead, you can put a fork in Rocco. 

8th hole

After looking unstoppable for 2 holes, Tiger beaches one like David Hasslehoff in the mid-90s.  He hits his 2nd back off the green like a 15 handicapper.  Rocco makes par and picks up one on Tiger. 

9th hole

1st sign of pain from Tiger’s left knee.  It didn’t affect his drive though.  He’s in great shape on this par 5. 

He misses the green and chunks one like Roseanne’s favorite meal choices.  Somehow Rocco just took a huge advantage on the hole.  Tiger has a 5 foot putt for par, but Rocco is putting for birdie. 

The switch over to NBC yielded some seriously surprising results.  Tiger made his par putt, but Rocco THREE PUTTED for a bogey, to fall 2 behind at the turn. 

I’d honestly be shocked if Tiger loses today.  With a two shot lead on the back 9, it’s going to take a superhuman effort from Rocco to catch him. 

10th hole

Rocco drives one right down the middle, but hits a poor approach shot and an even worse chip.  Bogey.  After an awful drive, Tiger finds a way to get up and in for a remarkable par.  There’s the magic 3 shot lead for the world’s #1 player.  He’s at even par on the day.  Going into the round, I would have thought Rocco needed to shoot -1 or -2 to beat him.  Looks like I was probably right.  Rocco’s current +3 score is not going to do it.  He’s got to start dropping some BIGTIME putts real soon. 

11th hole

I’m starting to think that Tiger might have a season pass to the beach at Torrey Pines.  Rocco just knocked one stiff.  He needs to pick up at least 1 on this hole. 

Rocco misses ANOTHER putt, but Tiger bogeys. 

12th hole

Tiger is playing some extremely subpar golf.  He’s making use of his season pass again in the fairway bunker.  He came up short and in the thick stuff.  That’s 5 greens in a row that he has missed.  Rocco hit a MASSIVE 2nd shot from WAY BACK in the fairway to about 15 feet.  They might be tied at +2 or +3 at the end of this one. 

Tiger has to be the best short game player of all time.  He’s hit 4/12 greens in regulation, but he’s only +1 on his round coming into this hole.  Of course, as I type this, he chunks his pitch just a little and comes up 10 feet short. 

Rocco misses ANOTHER putt.  This is beginning to be a theme.  He still manages to pick up a shot on Tiger.  If Tiger doesn’t take advantage of the par 5 13th, Rocco might be able to steal this tournament away from him. 

The ONLY reason Tiger is winning right now is because he is COMPLETELY out-putting Rocco. 

13th hole

For the first time today, BOTH players play well on a hole.  Both make fairly easy birdies. 

14th hole

This one should be fun.  The 269 yard par 4 is reachable for both players.  You can make an eagle, but you can also make a double bogey with a poor shot. 

Both come up just short of the green, but Rocco hits a much better pitch, leaving a tap in birdie.  He is temporarily tied, but Tiger has got a 10 footer to retake the lead. 

LIPS OUT!!!  ALL TIED THROUGH 14!!! CAN ROCCO DO IT???

15th hole

Back to back birdies for Rocco and a drive straight down the middle of the fairway.  Tiger hits a TERRIBLE shot into a bunker designed for another hole.  After 14 ½ holes, who would have thought that Rocco would have the advantage? 

ROCCO KNOCKS IT STIFF!!!  10 feet for birdie!!! 

Tiger from the beach…

O MY GOD!!!!!!!!  That might be the greatest shot I’ve ever seen.  He played an incredible bending draw around a tree from the sand and stuck his ball about 5 feet from the pin.  What a change of momentum!! 

We’ve got two MONSTER birdie putts coming up.  I expect one or both will make them.  If someone can take the lead here, it will be tough to overcome with only 3 holes to go. 

They just showed a PRICELESS shot of Rocco simply shaking his head at Tiger’s shot.  He can’t believe it.

O MY GOD!!! ROCCO HITS!!!!  HE’S IN THE LEAD!!!!!  3 BIRDIES IN A ROW!! 

Tiger for the tie…

HE MISSES!!!!  ROCCO LEADS BY ONE!!!! 

That might be the first time I have ever seen Tiger miss a putt like that.  He simply NEVER misses in the clutch.  Maybe it was meant to be for Rocco Mediate. 

Could Rocco be the guy who FINALLY upsets Tiger?

16th hole

We are coming to another par 3, which Rocco has DOMINATED all day long. 

Rocco makes an easy par – long birdie try for Tiger to tie…JJUUSSSSTTT short.  What a putt.  Tiger is one down with 2 to go. 

17th hole

There was a surprising lack of drama before the green.  Both players hit 2 good shots.  Tiger has a 20 footer for birdie, Rocco is more like 40 feet. 

Rocco’s putt goes about 3 feet past.  He should make par from there. 

Tiger is stalking this one like the paparazzi stalk Lindsay Lohan.

Tiger…for the tie…

NOPE.  Short again.  1 down headed into 18…What a final!!  What a great playoff round. 

18th hole

I have to say, this has been one of the best golf events of all time.  Friday and Saturday, Tiger had BONKERS back 9s, and today, we are FINALLY getting someone playing GREAT against Tiger Woods on the back 9 of a major.  Rocco has been INCREDIBLE on the back 9.  He deserves to win. 

Rough tee shot for Rocco.  He’ll have to layup from there, but on a short par 5, he’s still in good shape. 

Tiger rips one RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.  Even though he’s hit the ball all over the course this week, he still manages to come up with the big shot when he needs it.  Could he be ready to do something special?

Tiger and Rocco responded to the pressure with 2 brilliant shots into the green.  Tiger is 40 feet away shooting for an Eagle.  Rocco is 15 feet away for birdie.  Could Rocco’s putt be to win the US Open?  I mentioned on the 10th hole that Rocco needed to shoot around -1 to beat Tiger.  If he makes that putt, he finishes at -1, and will likely the US Open champion.

I don’t know if I’ve ever seen THIS MANY people be this quiet.  You could hear a pin drop. 

Tiger…for eagle…

He misses 3 feet to the right of the hole.

If Rocco makes this putt, he pulls off one of the greatest upsets of all time.  He deserves to make it.  He deserves to win.  He stared down Tiger and played incredible golf down the stretch.  He’s earned it.

Rocco…for the win…come on…get in…

NOOO!!!!!!  He misses just off the hole. 

Now, we’ve got 2 EXTREME PRESSURE putts inside of 3 feet.  Let’s hope they both make it.  They’ve played too well for someone to win on a choke. 

Even the seagulls can’t distract Tiger!!!  DEAD CENTER!!!

Rocco – to send it to sudden death……………………….SWISH!!

Tiger came up with a clutch birdie when he needed it to send this tournament to extra holes, just like he did yesterday.

PLAYOFF TIME!!! (Sudden death)

19th hole (played on the 7th hole)

Tiger tees off first…and he BOMBS it down the fairway.  He’s only going to have a short iron into the green.  He’s got a great chance to make birdie from there.   

Rocco overplays his draw and hits it straight into the fairway bunker.  He’s caught a really tough break, rolling up against the lip of the bunker.  He’s going to need to really make some great plays to make par. 

Rocco out of the bunker…sounded good…O NO….he pulled it…I think he might be screwed…let’s hope that doesn’t decide the championship. 

Tiger has 156 yards to the hole.  He’s hit a nice shot, about 18 feet below the hole.  It will be a similar putt to his birdie from earlier today. 

Rocco had to drop, but it was a free drop.  He needs to get up and in to have a chance to send it to another playoff hole.  Come on Rocco…hit it close…make Tiger EARN it…

Rocco hit a good one, but not a great one.  He’s got about 20 feet for par.  Tiger will putt first though. 

Tiger Woods…to win his 3rd US Open…

SHORT!!! IT’S SHORT!!

Rocco has got a chance to tie.  COME ON ROCCO!!

Rocco…to extend the tournament…

NNNNNOOOOO!!!!!! 

TIGER WINS!!

TIGER WINS!!

TIGER WINS!!

A familiar image.

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