Rocco just crazy enough to upset Tiger in playoff
SAN DIEGO — Rocco Mediate is the world’s 157th-ranked golfer, who had to qualify for the U.S. Open by emerging from a playoff with 10 others, who needed to first survive a sectional in Columbus, Ohio, before he could be part of the country’s national championship at Torrey Pines, who until now had missed the cut in half of 16 tournaments this year, who instead of competing at this time in 2007 was playing poker with his buddies miles from where the Open was being staged in his home state of Pennsylvania.
Who is matched against Tiger Woods today in an 18-hole playoff for the Open title as the world’s best player tries to go 14-for-14 in majors when sharing the lead or owning it outright after 54 holes.
Who is the perfect person to end the streak.
That’s right. Rocco is p-e-r-f-e-c-t for this.
Now, they could reach the turn on the South Course and Mediate could be grilled like your favorite fillet. Woods could be planting a celebratory kiss of the trophy before morning surfers are done riding breaks at nearby Black’s Beach.
Woods isn’t a minus-400 favorite by mistake. The best closer in history is playing on a course where he has won six times and once again shook its foundation Sunday by making a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th to force today’s extra round.
The ball didn’t fall smoothly into the cup. It bumped its way over the green and swirled around the lip. Unbelievable. Woods does drama like David Chase.
"Oh my God, I get to play for the National Open against the best player on Earth," Mediate said. "Of course I want to win. Of course I do. He wants to kill me. I want to kill him. That’s how it is. If we get in a fight, yeah, I have a problem. He’s for sure going to kick my butt.
"But we’re just going to play golf."
Mediate can win for more reasons than the fact Woods’ gimpy left knee appears to be hanging by a sliver of cartilage, and the fact Tiger is a combined 7-over par on his first hole of the day (on Friday, he started on No. 10). Mediate can win because, while you have heard this script before — there is no pressure on the one opposing Woods, allowing the underdog to swing free and easy — this time you tend to believe it.
It’s crazy. Some guys near Woods on a Sunday leaderboard lose before teeing off. They’re that psyched out. Even on days when he is off — like the 2-over-par 73 he posted Sunday — others just don’t make moves. Of the four players closest to Woods entering the final found here, three shot over par.
One didn’t: Mediate.
He is 45 and almost saw his career end more than once because of back problems. He went from talking about never playing again to fighting all the way back to this moment, which has him tied with Woods at 1-under par 283.
"I am playing a monster, the best player that ever played," said Mediate, who has been outdriven by Woods in this tournament by an average of nearly 50 yards. "But I made him make a putt (on 18) today. I made him do that. I knew he would make it. He does all the time. (Winning the Open) would be the story of my life."
There have been countless reasons for some of the more improbable Open playoff upsets in history, such as someone named Francis Ouimet besting Harry Vardon and Edward Ray in 1913, Bobby Jones losing in 1925 and 1928, and Jack Fleck getting Ben Hogan in 1955.
Here is why Rocco can win: He is unlike any golfer. He is different. He waves to the gallery a lot. He never stops talking. He is not the typical cookie cutter who crumbles under the weight of Woods’ immense legacy. Mediate is a bit off in a wacky sort of way, the kind of guy who told Woods when the playoff was secured Sunday, "I’ll see you in the morning, big man."
Your U.S. Open playoff pairing: Tiger Woods, with career winnings of $81 million and 64 PGA Tour victories, against Rocco Mediate, with just under $14 million and five victories. Tiger owns a $40 million estate on Jupiter Island, Fla. Rocco owns a pretty cool belt buckle of a peace sign. Tiger walks around these things guarded by policemen. Rocco walks around hoping not to get lost.
Here’s why he can win: "I’m nuts," Mediate said.
The perfect reason.
Ed Graney can be reached at 383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.
