What a thrilling tournament of golf. Without doubt, it was some of the most tense sport I have watched for a long time. I was glued to my television as Tiger Woods secured his third US open title by defeating Rocco Mediate at the first sudden-death hole of a fascinating play-off.
It was a rollercoaster of emotions for the spectators, so I can’t imagine what it was like for the players. Although, it has to be said that the play-off was conducted in good spirits with Woods and Mediate sharing jokes along the way. I guess it was a ‘laugh or else you’ll cry situation’.
It was Tiger Woods who started the 18-hole play-off the stronger. Mediate bogeyed the first hole and the World number one looked set for a comfortable victory at the 10th – he led by three shots and was looking solid.
It all changed in the back nine though. Tiger Woods bogeyed two holes in a row and Mediate birdied three in succession to turn the match in the veteran’s favour. Mediate then led by one shot until the last hole of the play-off – but this is where it all started getting breathtakingly fascinating.
The noise around the course was unbelievable as Mediate missed the fairway with his tee shot, with screams of ‘Tiger, Tiger, Tiger’ leaving no doubt as to who the crowd were following. The fans’ favourite finds himself at the edge of the green in two shots, with an eagle beckoning. After emerging from the bunker, Mediate then gives himself a chance of a birdie, finding the green with his third shot.
It was getting a bit much at this stage. Even I was sweating! The outside chance of an eagle for Tiger Woods goes begging – just. Then occurred a ‘hold your breath’ moment. Mediate was putting for the Championship. The man who hardly anyone backed when in came to golf betting had the chance to defeat Tiger Woods and win the US Open – with one putt. Talk about pressure.
Unfortunately, but almost inevitably, he missed. Tiger Woods then sinks his putt to birdie and Mediate secures par. It was sudden-death time and in my mind there was only one winner at this stage.
In what was only the third sudden-death in US open history, Tiger Woods won it on the first hole. Mediate didn’t help himself as his tee shot which he finds a bunker, while his opponent finds the middle of the fairway. It was all over bar the shouting.
Tiger Woods goes onto win the hole and with it his 3rd US open title. He has since described it as ‘the greatest tournament I ever had’ and I can’t disagree. It’s probably the best I’ve ever watched. We really are lucky to be able to watch the best golfer ever to grace the sport. Even when he has to limp around for 91 holes, he still delievers the goods. Credit to Rocco Mediate as well, he played his part in what was one of the most fabulous sporting events in recent years.
The focus is on the Open Championships from Birkdale now as far as golf is concerned. If it is half as entertaining as the golf we have witnessed over the last few days – we are in for a treat.
7 comments so far
1 Golf Equipment News // Jun 17, 2008 at 11:14 pm
The announcers kept saying, “This is ‘golf theater’ at it’s best,” and other things to that effect.
I couldn’t stop watching, and kept calling my young boys into the room (they were heading my way already because they heard me yelling) and saying, “Just look at that shot! That’s Tiger Woods, boys.”
This is why they cover Tiger about 75% of the time whenever he plays. I can’t get enough. It is thrilling to watch.
2 Golf Equipment // Jun 18, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I’m so glad Tiger won, hes my hero!
3 Andrew Boyers // Jun 18, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Tiger’s undoubtedly shown once again that he’s a cut above the rest, even on one leg.
He played some phenomenal golf, and to birdie the final hole to stay in the championship not once, but twice, shows that he’s not just superior physically and technically, but mentally too.
But now that he’s out for the season, you can only ask what long term damge has he done himself? Will he be dogged by this for the rest of the career? He shouldn’t worry about 2008 - with his major win and the successes earlier in the season, it’s job done - but from next year, I wonder whether he’ll be able to sustain the level he currently performs at.
With Jack Nicklaus’ 18 majors just four away, you’ve got to question whether playing in the US Open was a risk worth taking in terms of his long term ambition.
4 Steve Gould // Jun 18, 2008 at 11:25 pm
I agree what a great spectical for golf. It just kept changing so much. The underdod verses the injured. The do say that a wounded animal is always more damgerous.
5 Thomas Rooney // Jun 20, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Andrew - I don’t think we can say it was a risk playing in the US Open for Tiger - he probably wasn’t banking on it going on for 91 holes so he couldn’t have prepared for that! It would be a risk if he carried on playing this year purely to represent the US in the Ryder Cup. I think he has been sensible and will be back stronger than ever in 2009.
6 Golf Tips For Beginners // Jun 25, 2008 at 1:01 pm
He is thrilling to watch and he once again proved that. Will be sorely missed now he is gone for the rest of the season
7 Jim Halpert // Jul 4, 2008 at 3:19 am
Playing while injured is a difficult task. A task that even a true athlete can have difficulty accomplishing. I think in this case Tiger performed well during the calculated risk of playing while injured and the chips fell in his favor. I believe it could have easily gone a different way but the fact is, it didn’t.