You might think it's all over… it's not
- Monday, 7 July 2008
- 0 Comments
tiger/rocco
There is a reason that FA Cup Final replays were scrapped. With the huge build-up and excitement of a final day, followed by a great event, no one wants to go home without seeing a champion crowned.
Thousands of golf fans turned up at Torrey Pines to see the winner of their national championship lift the trophy. Millions of people stayed up until the early hours of the morning to see if Worksop's finest could defeat the world's greatest golfer. It was a fantastic afternoon of golf with numerous leaders throughout the day and no certain outcome until the last putt dropped. I am sure that the thousand or so fans lining the final hole, and those who stayed awake until 2am would have loved Rocco and Tiger to head back out there to compete in what would be a thrilling finale. The Open works perfectly in this respect; last year's four hole decider is proof of that.
The one positive of a Monday finish is that we have the privilege of seeing this wonderful golf course one more time. The USGA have set the course up perfectly all week and Sunday would have been the perfect farewell. Moving the tee back on 13 and forward on 14 worked brilliantly. The 13th pressurised Woods and Westwood into making mistakes but the 14th gave them the opportunity to make up for it.
I have a great deal of new found respect for Rocco Mediate and for a number of reasons. He played some great golf today and fought back brilliantly when he could have lost hope. He has clearly loved every minute of this week and the vast crowds have appreciated him for it. I fear that taking on Tiger over 18 holes tomorrow may prove a step to far for the 45-year-old from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, but he has to be given credit for helping make this an extremely special US Open, one I will certainly never forget.
