PHEW, I made it. To the end. Mostly awake
- Monday, 7 July 2008
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Bill Elliot
Actually not the end, of course, because the biggest anti-climax in sport takes place today when the 108th US Open endures another 18 hole play-off. I've been at a couple of these over the years and I promise you each has been a bigger disappointment than even fans of Ian Poulter have suffered this week.
Bereft of atmosphere, surreally quiet and calm, the 18 hole play-off should have been consigned to the game's dustbin by now. This is the only thing the USGA have got wrong this time in California but it is a big thing. What will happen between Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods tonight? Do you have to ask?
What we know for certain is that the final-round action was compelling. For once my eyes stayed wide-open and my interest never faltered as Mediate, Woods and Lee Westwood punched and counter-punched over 18 sensational holes. The only loser at the end was the Englishman and I felt for him but on the other hand I also punched the air with delight because this was his finest hour.
A decade ago – the last and only time he contended in a Major – Lee stood on the 10th tee at Augusta and felt like throwing up he was so nervous. This time he stood tall against the greatest golfer probably ever and never gave away an inch. This was his biggest defeat in one sense but the bigger picture tells me that this was his greatest achievement.
I even stayed up for the post-round interviews and once again Westwood came up trumps, saying that, yes, he felt “a bit gutted” but that overall he was quite pleased with himself. So he should be. His contribution to a memorable US Open was immense, his reinvented short game a credit to his perseverance and the talents of his 'around the green' coach Mark Roe.
Tonight, of course, will be easier and less interesting. Two men, one course, one extra day, one lack of atmosphere. Mediate, a nice, slightly hyperactive bloke in my experience, will do his best but it will not be good enough unless Tiger's knee finally forces him to the ground. How bad is this knee? Who knows.
For the first half of Sunday's round, Woods milked it for all he was worth then he says he took some painkillers and suddenly there didn't seem to be a problem. Work it all out for yourself. I can't.
What I do know is that there never has been a fiercer competitor. He simply does not know when he is beaten and, once again, he seemed to will, as much as hit, that last putt into the hole to set up today's play-off. So, Tiger to win, Mediate to probably implode, the US Open to finally finish.
At least it will all end a lot earlier and the big, yawny bits – there will be lots of these, believe me – can be filled by flicking over to the football where a lot of grown men will be clutching their knees in pain as well. A great week though. Hope you enjoyed it as much as me. Cheers.
