Rocco Mediate is my new favorite person. If you had mentioned his name to me prior to the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, I probably would have guessed that he was a professional golfer, but I wouldn't have been able to pick him out of a lineup. That's a shame, too, 'cause the guy has got a great face.

His personality is no weak spot either. He is apparently personable, talkative, candid, and now a new fan favorite after giving Tiger Woods all he could handle.

I knew that Woods would win, not because he always wins, or because people expect him to win, but because he expects to win and it shows in the different approach to the playoff matchup that just ended today. Rocco was happy to be there; Tiger was there to win. The difference in focus was obvious from the first tee and probably the outcome determinator.

But you gotta love this guy Rocco. He seemed to be enjoying himself. I don't think it was just his having been suddenly thrust into the sport spotlight as Tiger's playoff foe. I think it was the challenge in the face of the seeming inevitability, the opportunity to go one-on-one against "the monster" as he jokingly referred to the great Tiger Woods. Rocco couldn't resist enjoying the occasion, one that he couldn't have expected when the tourney began and one that he couldn't help but step back from and say..."Wow, I'm head to head with Tiger Woods." So he wore his natural grin and went out there and...almost won!

First, Woods had to sink a long putt on the final hole of regulation play just to force an 18 hole playoff. Then Woods had to sink a birdy putt on the final hole of the playoff in order to force the match into sudden death overtime. This against a guy 45 years old who's never won a major and whom Woods was outdriving an average of 25-30 yards.

Yes, Tiger's left knee was hurting. But he was putting like a demon. That's where Rocco lost it; his short to midrange putts just weren't falling.

I hope this experience propels Rocco Mediate into contention in all of his tournaments to come. He is fun to watch. His face is as open as his club was on that disastrous hole when he blew the ball off into the right rough. He's one of those people who leaves even a casual TV observer like me with the definite impression...this is a good man, and he deserves a couple of wins.

Comments:

I didn't watch it..I'm not a big golf fan...but I think after seeing it on the news that he did really well

comment by jondude on June 18, 2008 10:16 AM ()

EGAD! That means he will miss the Ryder Cup! What a break for Europe.

reply by jondude on June 18, 2008 10:16 AM ()

Wow, this tournament was on head-to-head with the College World Series elimination game between MIAMI and fsu. You sure have strange priorities.

comment by miker on June 17, 2008 1:41 PM ()

And you have a not-so-subtle way of pointing out that Miami eats FSU for lunch and has for years. Frankly, I didn't realize but, had I known, I still would have watched the Open playoff.

reply by looserobes on June 17, 2008 1:55 PM ()

I was so rooting for him.He did a very fine job in the game
there.I think that he got tighten up.Which is normal.
Tiger made him nervous some.He would have gone in the
history book as the older gent.His first major.
But not too shappy a purse that he will be getting.

comment by fredo on June 17, 2008 10:05 AM ()

You're so right...the purse is a nice palliative.

reply by looserobes on June 17, 2008 2:02 PM ()

I would have loved it if he had won!

comment by jondude on June 17, 2008 5:31 AM ()

Highest ratings ever for a Monday play off.

reply by grumpy on June 18, 2008 8:57 AM ()

Had Rocco made one more putt and Tiger missed one, the trophy would have been Rocco's. Too bad. I called in sick on my retirement to watch the Monday playoff.

reply by looserobes on June 17, 2008 7:15 AM ()

I saw him today..... awful close score, hoped he will win. Maybe there will be a next time

I don't watch golf but I did today with my Dad.I was really pulling for Rocco but deep down inside I knew Tiger would win.It was so exciting to watch.I agree that Rocco is a geniune nice guy who deserves a couple of wins.He is 45 and Tiger is 32,so he really is a winner in my eyes.

comment by dogsalot on June 16, 2008 6:41 PM ()

It was a great match to watch, wasn't it? I think Tiger got more than he expected from Rocco.

reply by looserobes on June 16, 2008 7:03 PM ()