US Open Playoff – David vs. Goliath

Watching the tournament this weekend was great! There were some great golf shots and some not so great. The US Open layout is usually the toughest test for the pros and it can often make them hit shots that I would hit. The US Open layout is a true test of the golfers skills both physically and mentally. The players really have to think ahead and plan their shots and a mistake can cost them dearly. For example, Phil Mickelson was still in the chase on Saturday, but a 9 on the par 5 13th hole basically knocked him out of the running. He did recover on Sunday with a nice round of 68, but by then the damage had been done and he was too far off the lead. He finished the tournament at +6. Tiger played pretty consistent for the entire weekend and showed his brilliance on Saturday playing the last six holes at 4 under. I will make an observation that it seemed that he grimaced more about his knee after he made a bad shot. Was he in more pain because he made a bad shot or did he make a bad shot because he was in pain? Who really knows? But I do know that he is going to have to suck it up today. He hadn’t walked 18 holes on his knee before the first round on Thursday, and now he is going to have to walk another 18 holes today in the playoff. If Rocco Mediate is going to have a chance to upset Tiger, it is going to be helpful that this will be Tiger’s 5th straight day of walking 18 and that could cause extra stress and pain on his knee.

The playoff between Rocco and Tiger tees off today at 12pm, it is truly a David vs. Goliath scenario. All of the pressure is on Tiger! No one expects Rocco to win but I would not count him out. He is a veteran player that can put together a low score. The crowds aren’t going to be huge due to it being Monday, so it should feel just like a regular round against the world’s number one player. If Rocco were to pull out the victory, he would be the oldest winner of the US Open at the age of 45. As long as he putts better today he will have a shot to beat Tiger. If he could have made a couple putts yesterday, he wouldn’t be playing today and could have lifted the trophy last night. Now he has to put together another solid round in order to win it. He knows the pressure is on Tiger and I am sure Rocco will have a good time on this stage. I would love to see Rocco upset Tiger and win it today, but I am not a fool and would never bet against Tiger. I just wished I could watch the round instead of being stuck at work.

Wait a minute; I am starting to not feel well! Maybe I need to go home now!