U.S. Open Epics: Tiger and Rocco

There are many elements to a good sports story, you can be around it for decades and there is still a chance that every time you walk into a stadium or golf course you will see something that is somehow different from anything else. You've seen it before. I've always liked Blender. I played junior golf here. He came there for the Junior World Cup. I enjoyed playing. I liked. This was from 15 to 17. Then when I played here at the Buick Invitational, for a few reasons. I felt very comfortable coming back to the golf course where I've had some success and I'm looking forward to going out and playing against Tiger Woods, obviously that's what the story tells because, frankly, the last time we saw him was at Augusta National, where her doctor said it could affect him this week.

Well, Scott, this is his third surgery on the same knee. There are still questions about how he will perform and his future here at the US Open. Do you think you could win here, given the obstacles this could create with your help? It will be your best victory, your best moment. There's a long way to go before that happens, so Tiger never talked much about his injuries. You know, he played with several injuries when I came and he never revealed too much, but my first indication was. Speaking with Hank Haney, no one knew for sure what the Tigers injury was until the doctor arrived and evaluated the MRI the Tiger had.

I will never forget. I mean, we were sitting in the Tigers' living room and dr. Rosenberg says you know you have stress fractures right here. I'm listening and I said, well, what's the procedure for a stress fracture? I didn't know and he said, well, you know, it's like six weeks, you know, without your leg. or you know inactivity and then you can start rehabilitating. I'm doing the mental math. I'm thinking the season is over. You know, at that moment Tiger looked at the doctor and said, "I'm playing in the US Open." I'm going to win Hello everyone.

I'm Bob Costas along with Dan Hicks, Johnny Miller and the rest of the team. We'll be with you all day and across most of the country into the evening with the US Open Championship on the line. I love it. when these guys say I'm just trying there's another tournament, when you see the US Open on the first flag, it's not another tournament, it's our national championship, playing in it you know what you've got because it's the ultimate test that the USGA is trying to do . What we need to do is make it as challenging for four days as possible.

We're testing every part of your shot-making ability, so the greens are faster, the greens are firmer, and the greens are rougher, maybe fairways tighter. If there is any part of your game that is not correct, we go to the US Open. To put it out there, ladies and gentlemen from Windermere, Florida, 2000 and 2002 US Open champion, Tiger Woods. I mean, you couldn't ask for more of a start than I had. I hit six on the first hole by the gate and just made a terrible mistake. tire, you know you're going to have to be patient next week because I mean, yeah, sometimes you get a little mad at yourself, you get a little mad and you say you're going to make some bad shots headed to the right, yeah, making friendship with everyone. the gallery here hit me this week had a lot of dad to be honest, you know, he hadn't walked 18 holes since Augusta, that little stinger was headed for the bunkers, he went to stinger, I got his dad out of that stinger myself . and others probably thought well, you know, if you don't win the Tomah Targa, it's not like you're supposed to win the time and you're playing at a huge disadvantage, you've given your health status here, you haven't practiced. you're playing on one leg, I mean, you have to be very patient when you get to this par 5, 18 and two, you settle for a three and asking for his autograph right now, in the first round I saw some names that are quite surprising Kevin Streelman Justin Hicks and Rocco Mediate is not the 1, 2, 3 group you were expecting but he kept those guys there and the second day is a new day at that and you think maybe 24 hours have passed since the previous day and you might feel a bit better. but who knows what the next place will bring you don't have them the last hole he played yesterday we put it for par on the 18th it was a putt just inside this length he said that won't happen again yes this is actually for the At the beginning of the round, I think it's a pretty big putt, Johnny, well, I'll say slow down, my Tiger Woods for par.

Everything that's going on, I think, will once again make it a long day that doesn't look good. I don't see him nervous often the fascination the obsession of this tournament made him a little more nervous he falls short he was obviously disappointed that's pressure there's no doubt he was nervous and that's a good thing that means you care Tiger Woods now see if he can make his par, the answer would be no, so the initial problem was interesting on the front nine so far for the number one player in the world. Woods, as he sees it, a tie for 27th doesn't take much, he just makes a couple of mistakes here and there.

The golf course will bite you fast, he was playing with spikes and that obviously with concrete spikes is not our deal and when I was about to make contact with the lip of his right foot and I could hear the crunch in his knee, I felt a pain terrible. and I knew he felt that, obviously, and I just said, hey,

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, now it's time to pack your bags. oh, you're going to play a lot of maid attempts in your career if this is a tournament. I know you've got a thing for a little bit, man, you could ruin your whole career here, nice wave to the right, trying to back up to the green, best shot he's hit all day, they said you, Stevie, I'm one of those tournaments that Tiger never talked about stopping.

I mean, once he started, he wasn't going to stop. I guess something went off in his head after that shot. Okay, that's the most pain I can take, if I can take it. I can endure this torment. It was outside of sports, usually not friendly. to the body, but there are never any excuses, just go play with rhythm, good rhythm, I suddenly said that the rhenium there from everywhere should be directly uphill here, so Tiger Woods, two birdies in a row, now only three behind the leaders, listen to those footsteps. Here they come, Tiger started to lose confidence after that shot off the car now and you can see it in the swing and he's walking with the good form of Pacey's paycheck, who certainly would have made a pretty good move for a guy with four bogeys, uh, well, Tiger.

He is known for weakening his attacks and now that he is just one shot off the lead, the other golfers who are in contention are fully aware of his presence. I think we're pretty used to it so it shouldn't be a surprise, it's just a matter of going to play golf he wants to go to play golf we want to go to play golf and you know I'll do my best to accidentally throw a club into You saw me because you don't think I would come back here, right? I appreciate that very much, except when you get to a major championship, if you play well and you're in the last group on the last day, today you'll probably play with Tiger Woods, that's the dream, that's what you want, I mean.

You don't get many opportunities to play with the best player because anything, especially at my age, we're going to find out I think I can, but there are other guys that might have a different opinion on it, so we'll say me. I'll try, ladies and gentlemen from Naples, Florida, Rocco Mediate becomes the oldest champion of all time at 45 years old, drawing towards the center. He knew that after he finished on Friday he was going to be there on Sunday somewhere he didn't know. where he was going to be close, but he knew the whale was swinging by the way he was hitting it, that he could outlast him in the air, if you can get this in the middle, it's cool, he's been aggressive, he's a classy guy , but it's a very good shot, Rocco.

I'll tell you, Johnny Rocco has so much support here right now. If there is anyone after Tiger and Phil, he is very popular. Rocco in the media is someone the crabs really identify with. He is from Pennsylvania. He looks like a blue. the person with the collar looks like he's at the Olympics collecting pins in his hat he looks like some kind of tourist he has a jovial manner he's always laughing there couldn't have been a player who had more fun and the US Open that Rocco Mediate was Rocco's reaction that I did Let's go to Bob Costas in this case the competition is not only that he is not a known name, he may not be recognized outside his own home his chest there the V on the sweater still has his player ID in case they forget who does, in case you tuned Tiger with his plus one with a double bogey, you know, bogey and fire behind Rocco and this eagle, if you somehow got it, I think it would change the whole championship.

I really do, this could be the It's a difference Saturday was one of those days when you really believe the golf gods are looking out for you. If anyone is going to produce some miracles, it's Tiger Woods. This is crazy. A putter. I think I could throw it up to 50 yards. the hill couldn't be the 13th hole, the par 5, a very, very difficult part, where you would be very happy to get there and make a birdie, which is planned, remains in Saturday's tag. I played behind him so I saw the antics, it was just a funny moment for me and Roger's very uncomfortable posture and this can help the left knee.

I didn't think I was ready to see them. He wasn't like, oh, now I'm dead, right? I'm not saying maybe some guys do it, but I was like, yeah, let's go to this very doable one, going from right to left, get your charm back to that smile again, go to 18 at 1 under par, mumble now around 18 while Tiger walks the 18th hole here. Is it too much to ask one more eagle to practice striking? He's pointing left, you see Roger and he's looking left like two and a half feet per second, Tiger Woods, this is done and he's in possession, meaning it's saved. 13 previous major championships before that Sunday at Torrey Pines Tiger Woods was 13 for 13 when he held the lead after 54 holes in a major, he never quit, he never lost before Sunday, but I didn't care about the stats, there's always a first time . for all that left left to left again, that's three times this week, he did the big pull up here, you better get a good break here, otherwise that badass is really tough and he's going to get the gallery and that's only if you're lucky or not with the trees. oh, you jumped up the tree too quickly, do you believe in Roger, what starts he has had in his rounds this week, the worst attack of his career.

He had never seen him play a hole like this in his entire outride career. You led for the first time on the last hole yesterday Tigres at the top you have given everything back and it is the first round. Could it be like too much tension in your absolute shock Johnny? I don't think anyone can believe what you're looking at. Well, he's lost the edge on him and that doesn't happen often. Roger on Sunday, there are times when that gets done quite a bit, you just keep playing, you know, whatever it is, keep going. Packer is off to a bad start, but I'm like he's back.

I remember telling Matthew, don't worry, he'll be back, let's not even worry about him. I will decapitate Tutu and Rocco. Half pitch wedge one hundred and twenty-seven yards. Rocko could see the group behind a baby. the sand maybe gets it in there four or five feet early to get to 2 under par, can be in the lead in a minute Gary took the lead, well you could feel the buzz around the course, you could hear it, he's playing in front of him. We, you know, there were a lot of people following them and the crowd was going crazy, so there's your leader at the US Open, Rocco Mediate.

Yes, he is the character. He's more like the guy who cleans. Tiger Sloan shoots a common man with a common truck. He has no pedigree, you know. I think if we're honest with ourselves, you weren't thinking that Rocco Mediate would be there at the end on a Sunday. Remember that Rocco Mediate has not yet made any attempts, while the Tigers. experience in these types of situations, to be ranked number one, you have to earn golf permits and I can always say that I know how to do this. I've done it before, when you don't have any situation, you're absolutely looking at the scoreboard because you know. which holes are a good birdie chance and which holes are great shot chances, so you're watching the scoreboard like a hawk, this to take the US Open lead, Rocco must now get back to 2 under par, back to Tiger. for bar now this judged this doesn't go down going up called Rocco has to go alone he's not happy with it Johnny you have a feeling as we go down the last bowls here in Horry well you know it's hard to believe that Rocco could win the US Open guys with the name Rocco don't get on that trophy Rocco is stepping in quickly here third on the location of the par 5 hole just over the water to the right here comes Rocco this appreciates a loser and boy?

Is he one that Mo

rocco

just looked at the scoreboard, so I'm pretty sure he knows where he stays? You're busting your ass out there. It's hard if you let your guard down. It's over. Everything thatIt's left to Rocco. post one here below take your eyes one shot ahead yeah I finished my round I shot one under par during the week and I had to go sign my car and wait until the last group finished in Mo

rocco

and I'm standing here watching what What's happening at 18 Rocco, what's going on? going through your mind i died sawing if i had left it all there i am all over the golf course it was the most fun i could have ever dreamed it would have been and i held it together somehow okay, let's lookwhat's going to happen now?

Look what happened. At that moment I can't do anything else. The more time passed, the advantage became smaller and smaller. Just the fact that the injury played more as a factor one on the right field or that is a big mistake. there's thicker pressure, but you know there's no one more equipped to handle it than him, you know, and I always felt like you know he's Tiger Woods, you know he always has a chance, no chance, it's such a small window, how can he hit it to make it come out? get the distance right Roger hits a powerful groundstroke you'll have to do It was seen by Tiger Woods and the first time they saw him without speaking, the Bronco tried to become the first player to track Tiger Woods in a major championship, everyone has had the 54-hole Lady and this crowd recognized what was a good

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ing during this week, so Rocco Mediate.

I don't think I would have imagined that it would all come down to Tiger one-time putting and forcing an 18-hole playoff that was probably about to end. enough drops outside to the right and the green wasn't very smooth so I kept telling myself to just make a pure shot that bounces in if it bounces so at least I can hold my head up and say I made a shot pure and me, Rebecca. of course anyone else will make it he's mine no one else makes it fun no one we have Tiger for 18 holes too there's nothing you can ask for so tomorrow he'll play the number one player in the world for the USA oh tomorrow is the latest in golf.

I'm going to find out if all the things I've worked on my entire golfing life work. Morocco is a great player, he's had a great career, I mean, but we're talking about Tiger Woods here, you know, in At that time, Tiger was not only the biggest name in golf, if he transcended the game, not only he had a higher objective level of skill, he had an aura about it, the other guy isn't even ranked in the top 100. The world thought I was going to be murdered on Monday. Destroyed. Ashamed. I looked ridiculous. It gave me something to fight with.

I actually love it. Did you think I couldn't beat a monk when I woke up on Monday and knew he was going to win? There was no way this guy was going to lose any Rick, give us a little context here if Rocco is able to beat Tiger Woods today and become the national champion, where that would be among the big surprises, not just necessarily in golf , but also. In sports, well, I've been trying. I was thinking about that because it might be, but it would be Buster Douglas on Tyson, it would have to be Titanic on an iceberg.

The Falkland Islands over England. I don't know, it's crazy, it's just amazing if he could pull it off I don't think he can, you know, Monday was definitely an interesting start to the morning. After a year we return to the operating ponds, all excited. The first thing you see is Rocco drifting like Tiger would in black pants and a red shirt. It's Monday, so he doesn't want red one day, he just wants it. He was right on Mondays, alternate. I think he was a little surprised, Stevie said, can you believe what came today? I approached him, good morning, sure. good Monday morning everyone, on a beautiful day in Southern California, today the number one player in the world, Tiger Woods, is seeking his 14th major title and Rocco Mediate, the number 158th player in the world, who is trying becoming the oldest champion in US Open history at that age. of 45 good little good drive here right down the center turning a little to the left side third tiebreaker of the Tigers very impressive and a perfect record important towards and on the right side going after the pucker it gets nice, this is going to be a Day interesting, the nice Rocco Mediate against Tiger Woods and then an 18-hole playoff to decide the US Open Championship. 176 yards for Rocco, this one is right, not a good shot, just a little left for all the side, in good shape, drakul in the bucket.

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ing of 1810 to decide who met with the shuttle championship this is a very important part not even close Rocco I'm here to play not to joke and he comes from the right Rocco is in the house walks in the house they mediate I'm just guessing , but my feeling is that he mediato said I'm having the time of my life, let's put some pressure on Tiger, how about there's a little bat for sure, a little dice on that rock?

I applied incredible golf, he was out. You know that the situation did not improve from the ground, it is even difficult to get a color out of the sand. Wow, going out to the left, to the left, it's the path of pad art, what a bad break, it's a Rocco trying to hold on to one here. -The shot lead looks pretty good, is it firm enough? Is it far enough? Both players now in the hole plus one through five have the feeling that he has been playing because of the knee. Very mediocre golf, but now all of a sudden I can feel him coming in. that area is the beauty that they are just below the flagpole at least a one-stroke advantage this is mediated so that the pair remains won again and he does not find the cup but a bogey for him is two behind like Rocco's at in front of this 10th green with his third, I'm not sure it was the best choice, you just can't do that against a guy like Tiger, but he gives you a chance, you have a move, Tiger hit it like a genius, I think than what this tournament brought.

What came out was the determination and courage of the forest. I was going to wrap up, whether you're a percentage hunter or not, it doesn't matter if you're in that environment, so let's go. He believed that who would win that mockery. The broken leg will not break in the night. broke, we really don't know on Monday, he seemed fine, this is a big problem for Rocco, he tries to match Tiger and can't find the cup and now Rocco is in the middle of the Cinderella story in great danger, there is the nominee three behind and What's happening in the world is that everything is over, you're three shots behind Tiger Woods and you have eight holes left to play, you're done.

One thing is that you have to remember that in golf when a guy like Rocco or anyone else who is in the same position as him comes along. They have nothing to lose Tigers the only one who has something to lose because the Tigers are supposed to win I'm playing for the US Open I had nothing to lose it's really but that's nothing of course it's a huge thing I said that I have had Enough of this and I leave the green. I said Matthew, if I play how I'm going to play, we'll do whatever I want in the last seven holes.

I'm going to beat this guy and that's what I said. Let's do a pressive swing there. Look, Tiger takes this on here on this long par 4, year 12, pees and gets his money's worth in San Diego, baby. I'm sure Tiger was where this guy came from, but it's a nice clean hit, Johnny, perfect. the flag the tragedy up to here I love getting into the head of a

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right now thinking he knows three up a while ago what's happening yes hey what's happening birdies in a row from Rocco Mediate has a one shot lead people went crazy because it's all over, they met me at eight, not three, all of a sudden, there's a little bit different things happening, so much drama, Tiger and all the lipids he did on the golf course and then Rocco Mediate here with just a couple of remaining holes. twice one stroke ahead of Tiger, I went from having control of us in his tournament to now and had a ball game with three birdies in a row from Rocco Mediate and now Tiger to stay even with Rocco and three holes left, I think The crowd could feel a little bit the opposite and we're going to have this blue-collar guy from Pennsylvania Incas named under that trophy for the US Open.

It leads to the 18th hole which I cut in the center of the green. Rocko's advantage actually. Go ahead, evaluate if you can hit a better shot and pick it up right there with 64 PGA Tour to start from six years ago, the Tigers lost 41 times, that's thirty-eight starts oh, it's completely crazy because we're tied. Now it's a putting contest, look, I don't have an advantage anymore, he has forty feet for Eagle, I have fifteen to eighteen feet for birdie, if one of us, Meg, wins and leaves today at the age of 45, now I have the album I always wanted.

I have a putt to win the US Open. How many guys say Manny is right? I have it now. The pressure mounts a lot on Rocco, especially if Tiger does this now. I got this to stay in the game with a par putt. to continue this US Open Championship until sudden death Matthew goats what do you think and I said he just has to get in? I don't know what it's going to do, that's all I thought, I don't know how I'm going to make it work. that but that's what a champion is going to do sudden death we're going for the third time since it was established in 1954 Rocco and Tiger play an 18-hole playoff we still don't have a winner we have to go one more hole 24,000 people crowding this golf course for only two players they are putting on a show this one goes left again Murph towards that bunker that is against the edge that may not be anything good I don't remember anything like this too bad it looks like Rocco the tee shot of the bat could make him lose the championship, he also does something fantastic, he is in trouble leaving and I have the same cut he had today from a bunker, this one was taken out and went to the left, you don't like it, he gives Tiger too many openings, he usually takes them all growing up, there's the Cinderella story about to end, yes, the lead on Tiger, what did he do for almost an hour?

Did you know that you think about that 18 toll both days? He could have won the US Open he couldn't get much spin out of there so he'll probably have to hit a 20 foot shot just to win, now for Tiger, that one brought him to his knees, he wanted, he doesn't want to participate in seeing Rocco . putt, can Rocco do what the Tigers two golfers have been doing for years? Chances are he'll never get another chance like this. He could do it, but in this arena with Tiger Woods it's probably not this to stay alive and sudden death, great players do great things, therefore. great players normal players do normal things they are normal players there has only been a handful of gravity so you normal player one of the most notable performances of his career Tiger Woods pushes his fears through Torrey Pines and wins a third US Open Championship I am a very a lot in one player, I've had my moments of almost greatness, but I'm not a great play by any means, there's nothing he can do, I mean, I did everything I could, I did everything I could, in this case , Rocco ran. out of time 14 races less for the tiger Hollywood would be the most stubborn human being I have ever met, so when he decides to do something, you wouldn't know that the Titanic wouldn't stop him from doing it.

Well, he had to do a little more this time, but we saw more classic Tiger Woods this week. Egan almost didn't want to see any of the players lose that US Open. I mean, if there was a way to have offered that trophy, something that would have been a great thing, Rocko, wouldn't you remember today? What do you think you will remember most about this? I just thought I would never leave him. I never gave it up and I've been beaten a couple of times and I came back and got what I wanted. I had a chance to beat the best player in the world and I just came up with a short tap, but I think I scared him a little bit right away, which was great.

He just told me it was a big fight and stuff. means everyone right there, congratulations Rocko, thank you king of the conservatives Tiger Woods, moving on another way, Stevie has the trophy there for just a few seconds, join me in welcoming our 108 US Open champion, Tiger Woods. Tiger, congratulations to the boys. I did a race, but this is one of the bravest races, yeah, and everyone knows rock is a great guy and it was a great battle all day and also a great friendship, this is part of the, you know, the best term I have. have I ever had congratulations tiger thank you very much for being dramatic and for it to be memorable it is not necessary for the underdog to win just for the underdog to give a great account of himself that weekend was Rocco media the moment he left there in his On my own terms, I'm as much of a winner as Tiger Woods.

I still love talking about it because I still get questions every day and my wife would say what I said. This is how they ask me a question about something they saw that meant something to me. them it wasn't like Joe's open, it was the US Open, you know a battle took place and I will never feel like anything less can happen.