U.S. Open Playoff Live-Blog: Holes #10-18
Monday, June 16, 2008
Well that was an unexpected miss by Rocco on nine. He could have pulled all square but he three putted. Woods leads by two heading to the tenth.
Hole #10:
Par 4, 414 yards: Tiger's drive is right and he's in the deep stuff. Tiger let's out a g'damn and Miller follows with this....
"That's not the way we want to open our show with that little reaction like that. Sorry about that."- Johnny Miller
You couldn't hear the damn part, so you're good NBC. Mediate's drive is straight down the heart of the fairway. NBC goes into their intro, and I'm going to make a sandwich.
Tiger chucks it out of the rough and his shot rolls down the fairway. Not much else he could do. Rocco's got another shot at getting back in it. Very high shot...and it's short of the green. There's a front hole placement though and he's got a shot at birdie.
"There were guys in the stands at 6am and they don't get to see a shot at 1:30."-
Johnny Miller
Eff that. Tiger's got a weird lite with half of it in the fairway and half on the fairway edge. Wow...that was some spin. He went two yards past the hole and came right back off. Rocco's third is just a terrible shot. He barely skips it onto the green and he's got eight feet left. It just might not be in the cards today if he's missing all of these opportunities.
Tiger is putting from the fringe and he's got eighteen to go uphill. SINKS IT! And that's a dagger if Rocco misses this one. He does and that might be all Tiger needs.
Tiger: "Hey Rocco, check out this guy behind us. He's holding a giant rod to his crotch."
Rocco: "I love that gag." (Via Pete)
Good caption.
Scores: Woods- E, Mediate- +3
Hole #11:
Par 3, 193 yards: Tiger is in yet another bunker and Mediate has yet another opening.....great shot! Just past the hole at about 10 feet. He's not out of it yet. Woods out of the bunker......Wellllll past the hole. Mediate is away though and he's off....just right. Par for Mediate. Tiger for his Par....MISS! Rocco gets one back.
"ROCCO! ROCCO!"- San Diegoans
"That's my good friend Steve (someone), my duck hunting friend."- Johnny Miller
Johnny Miller, channeling Joe Morgan (do I really have to call him Dr. Morgan?)... dropping the name of his Duck Hunting buddy sitting in the grandstands at 14. (Via Anon)
No, you don't have to call him Doc.
Scores: Woods- +1, Mediate- +3
Hole #12:
Par 4, 505 yards: Rocco is right down the center on his drive and Tiger follows with a shot into the fairway bunker. Here we go! Commercial break.
Mediate's second is a beauty....just rolls past the hole and he'll have a birdie attempt. Tiger is short and right into the rough and he lets out yet another G'DAMMIT!
Tiger's third shot, a chip uphill, is short and he'll have another 12 feet to go. He didn't seem to hit that one well either. Mediate's birdie attempt.....no good. Woods is taking forever to lineup his long Par attempt....Nope! And that should be another stroke for Rocco!
Woods sinks the Bogey five and Rocco has a five footer to move to one down....sinks it!
Scores: Woods- +2, Mediate- +3
Hole #13:
Par 5, 539 Yards: This is the Tiger Eagle hole so we'll see if he goes for it again. Rocco's drive is left and just barely in the fairway. Tiger's goes a bit past Mediate's but well into the left rough. Commercial break....
"And that should be another stroke for Rocco!"...That's what she said. Zinger.- Jeremy D
Side note for the masses... would you consider this a "Come from behind victory" for Tiger if he pulls it out? Just wondering. (Via Anon)
It should be, but probably won't be referred to as such. Rocco is going for it! Just short and into the bunker. Woods is on though with a heck of a shot!!! He'll have an eagle attempt.
Rocco's bunker shot looks like an easy one for him....not bad. Left but a makeable putt from about 7 or so. Tiger's Eagle attempt....just short. He had the right line, but was just a bit to weak with it. Mediate.....gets it! We're going to fourteen with Woods up one still.
Scores: Woods- +1 Mediate- +2
Hole #14:
Par 4, 269 Yards: Mediate almost drives the green on the short Par 4 and he's in the fairway. Here comes a double eagle attempt from Tiger....
"This little tiny hole is eating his lunch."- Johnny Miller
Same distance as Rocco's but in the rough to the right. Commercial break. Tiger comes out of the rough left and leaves it about eight feet away. The door is open for Mediate here.....just misses it left! He's a foot away. Birdie three for Rocco.
Tiger's eight footer or so......OOOH! Just lips it out. Now we're tied! Good lord this is fun!!!
Scores: Woods- +1 Mediate- +1
Hole #15:
Par 4, 478 Yards: Mediate is away and his drive bounces into fairway along the right. Some luck there for Mediate. And Tiger sends it into the gallery to the right. An awkward swing there with the knee bothering him now.
Rocco's got 191 to the hole.....great shot! A bit right and a bit long and it's within 20 or so. Oooh Tiger's actually in a bunker that's on the previous hole I think. 170 to go......
OH MAN! WHAT A SHOT!!! He sticks it inside of Rocco's ball! Unbelievable. He has to be the best scrambler in the history of Golf. Rocco just shakes his head.
WOW! Rocco drills his putt!!! This is just too much fun! Mediate has three birdies in a row and the pressure is on Tiger's putt. It should be almost the same as Rocco's though....Tiger misses!
Rocco Mediate leads with three to go! Insane.
Scores: Woods- +1 Mediate- E
Hole #16:
Par 3, 225 Yards: Mediate is away and Tiger is gnawing on an apple as he waits. 4 Iron.....Very short. Now Tiger has an opening he clubs up after seeing Mediate's shot. The wind slows down and Tiger switches back to a four....it hits short as well and releases just onto the front of the green. Commercial break.
Mediate is going to putt this one....interesting choice. JUST BY THE HOLE! Great attempt there. He'll Par the 16th. Woods once again though gets the benefit of having almost the exact same putt. I didn't move much so he should have a good chance to sink this.....
OH MY GOODNESS! Just one half roll short. As close as he can get. Rocco taps in and he's still up one.
Scores: Woods- +1 Mediate- E
Hole #17:
Par 4, 441 Yards: Mediate's drive is just in the first cut and Tiger follows with a slight hook right into the heart of the fairway.
Tiger's got just over 160 and great job by NBC's crew to pick up the conversation between Woods and his caddie about the wind. He's taking his time with this one and rightfully so. He steps back again as Williams calls him off the ball. Good lord this is intense. Woods switches again based on the wind...eight iron....
Great shot. Just hops it past the hole and it stops about 15-20 past. Rocco's got 154 from the rough....Short! Oooh...he gets a kick onto the green. Both have pretty tough birdie attempts.
"Jack Nickalaus is playing my tournament in Salt Lake City as we speak, I'm not there."- Johnny Miller
Rocco is away...uphill from about 40 or so....ooooh good putt. Slides it by and leaves himself about a five footer. Tiger has a long one in the opposite direction but not nearly as far...probably 25 feet....
NOT ENOUGH! Leaves it short and Rocco has a short putt for Par that will seem like 80 feet.....GOOD! Onto eighteen and Mediate is up one still!!! So intense.
Scores: Woods- +1 Mediate- E
Hole #18:
Par 5, 525 Yards: Mediate pulls it into the left fairway bunker! Woods over the ball....playing a fade....and he's right in the middle. Here we go!!!
Rocco is away and his second shot will be from the bunker.....and he's back into the middle of the fairway. Tiger though has a shot at the green and a potential eagle. Wind is coming from left to right. Tiger spits and then steps back over the ball.
HE'S ON! Barely over the pond in front!!!
Mediate is up for his chip.....great shot! Dead center of the green and he'll have a nice birdie attempt. Man this is so great.
Tiger is up first with a thirty footer plus.....
He misses right and leaves himself with a heck of a birdie putt. Rocco can win it here. The commentators say it might go a little right and it's uphill.....
MISS! Tiger is up again with a six footer or so....and a bird just flies right over his line. Too funny....
GOOD!!!!! Now Mediate has the toughest short putt of his life to move to sudden death....
HE MAKES IT!!! 90 holes isn't enough! We're going to even more free Golf!!!
Scores: Woods- E Mediate- E
Hole #19 (#7 on the course):
Tiger has the honor and he birded this hole earlier in the day. I just can't believe this is going to go the whole day. Let's play another eighteen, let's play two!
"They wanted a show, they got a show."- Rocco Mediate to Roger Maltbie
After a long walk and some food Tiger sets up in the middle of the tee and he's ready to go....he's drive is right inside the fairway on the right hand side.
Rocco's drive is going left.....into the bunker!!! That's not good. Okay Rocco has a ball below his feet here and....he pulls it! It hits left of the cart path and hits off the grandstand. Not the worst of spots but Tiger's got a good look here.
156 to go....the wind picks up a bit and he switches clubs yet again. Here we go...beautiful. About 15 feet short and right on the green. Almost the same spot he made the birdie from on seven.
"Let's Go Rocco! Clap, Clap, Clap Clap Clap!"- Gallery
Rocco gets relief from the stands and he gets a drop in the rough. Beautiful lie after the drop and he'll have a shot here. Tough to get it by the hole though....
It heads well past the hole to about twenty feet and that'll be the one he has to make to stay in this Playoff. Tiger needs to hurry up because the thunder storms are coming through AA Central. If I disappear you know why.
Tiger to win it......
OHHHHH! Another one he leaves just short and Tiger falls to his knees. He taps in though and Rocco needs this one to go to another hole. This is it....
NO GOOD! And Tiger Woods wins it!!!
Unbelievable day of Golf and I'm just left shaking my head at Tiger. You have to feel for Mediate though but in the end it just wasn't enough to best the number one player in the World.
"He's so hard to beat obviously."- Rocco Mediate
"It just showed me that I can still compete, and I want to still compete."- RM
How can you not like this guy? Interviews, thoughts and more videos to come if the power hangs on for me here. Thanks for playing along folks....it was a hell of a good time.
127 Comments:
I dunno really. I like him at times, but others he's kind of annoying. I guess I'm neutral at this point.
Tiger: "Hey Rocco, check out this guy behind us. He's holding a giant rod to his crotch."
Rocco: "I love that gag."
Not sure if the TV feed is the same as the one on usopen.com i'm watching, but that one just had a nice shot of Tiger grabbing his crotch. Fantastic...
Why is Miller apologizing for Tiger saying "god damn." We're lucky he doesn't announce basketball or he would apologize every possession for hearing "holy shit" or what not from players.
Rocco's irons just have not been that strong today save the 4 iron on three off the tee.
Where can I get some Kakuya grass?
Rocco is getting really shaky, real quick.
AA thanks for the great live blog. It seems like nobody's playing that well and they're spraying it everywhere but the fairway. I guess I don't need to watch it on Tivo when I get home.
Huge Par putt for Tiger... WOW... I thought it'd go by, and Miller says the same thing, thought it'd lip out and go 3 feet by the hole.
Putting wins majors. And Tiger is not only the best putter on tour but he also reads greens better then anyone on tour.
Tiger's par putt could be the dagger, especially considering how poorly Rocco's been putting and all of the easy holes ahead (13, 14, 18)
By the way these crowds are absolutely nuts. Huge and loud.
He's just past the hole, not whole
/grammer nazi
It's getting better B and T...you may want to keep recording.
@AA... what kind of sandwich?
Any chance of another dagger by Tiger and another ridiculous par putt?
Johnny Miller, channeling Joe Morgan (do I really have to call him Dr. Morgan?)... dropping the name of his Duck Hunting buddy sitting in the grandstands at 14.
What a great Nike commercial with Tiger & Pops. Well done.
I would have never guessed I'd be following soccer and golf via the internet. YAY SERIES OF TUBES CREATED BY AL GORE!!
When will they learn to not keep the frickin mic near Tiger...
AA... Tiger is +1... just for those following from home.
Just turkey and swiss....boring.
Rocco has been one terrible putter these past few days.
since hilary dropped out of the race he's going after the John Daly crowd.
Rocco's putting today has been not good. Disappointing because he could be making a run...
Whoops...my fault. Fixed.
i like costas but he has to get rid of the Alex P Keaton vibe...
One shot lead. This is fun.
"And that should be another stroke for Rocco!"...
That's what she said.
Zinger.
Reachable par 5 in two and reachable par 4 in one coming up. I love the way the USGA set this course up.
Side note for the masses... would you consider this a "Come from behind victory" for Tiger if he pulls it out?
Just wondering.
Some outward rooting on NBC from Miller and the old guy (Bob Murphy) for Rocco. A bit interesting.
Will Tiger go for it? Looks like he got a decent lie.
"Well into the left rough."
Doesn't matter when your in the normal cut and get such a nice lie. Great shot by Tiger. But Rocco has a fairly easy bunker shot.
Both players have to go for this green off the tee.
AA, you alright? Got the score wrong and they're not tied going to 14=)
Just giving you a hard time, really appreciate the live blog while stuck at work...
I don't know what is more foul and digusting, the gallery here or the crowd at a Philly Eagles game.
Two fun chips coming up. Someone will make it.
I don't know what's going on with my scorecard today. My apologies.
@AA... Clearly, bloggers don't do math. We know you're not writers, but clearly you're not good with the math either. Good thing the burger places have pictures of the food on their cash registers.
/Buzz
Huh Murph.
Huh Murph.
Huh Murph.
Love it. Great chip by Rocco there, terrible one from Tiger.
I'm openly rooting against Tiger...
Ha ha ha, and finally one of Tiger's lip-in putts actually lipped out. The golf gods owed him that...
Here's the four hole playoff everyone has been asking for.
Funny how the Tiger limp is starting to show up again.
Tiger was limping after that drive as he walked away. Five days of golf might be taking their toll. Door is open for Rocco...
After that tee shot did it look like Tiger walked off the tee box with a noticeable limp? To me it did. Rewind your TIVO kids and check.
You're so right Anon. There are no abacuses in my dad's basement either. Such a shame.
Well maybe the pain meds are finally wearing off and the pain is getting to him. He's never been one to say the pain is the reason he plays poorly, so we'll see.. I see Rocco going up 1 shot after this.
Tiger's walking with his driver as a cane.
The Genius Johnny Miller didn't notice this.
What would happen if Tig's ACL popped on one of these awkward shot?
Damn, what a shot by Rocc.
Tiger's gonna have an awkward stance on his shot out of the bunker here.
Great shot to the green by Rocco...
tiger is ultra-competitive... anyone who is implying that he's limping to give himself an excuse is crazy. anyone who has played sports at a highly competitive level knows that you don't dog it like that, because no-one cares about how much you're hurting, really.
(@mookie)
Okay. All I have to say is holy shit at that shot by Tiger.
Damn...that was sick.
And an even better shot by Tiger. WOW.
Johnny needs to keep on saying Tiger is scared.
Yup, holy shit indeed.
Once again, everyone else is hitting golf shots. Tiger is playing Golden Tee, just in real life.
Tiger. F'ing. Woods. WOW!
People Tivo-ing at home, this is why, so you can go back and watch that 2nd shot.
rooting for Rocco by Johnny Miller and Bob Murphy? Are you kidding? These guys need knee pads for as much as they slurp up to Tiger. By the way, just HOW much better is CBS' golf team than NBC's? I'm getting so sick of listening to them.
It seems like most of Tiger's good shots come from the gallery. Is that his form of the fairway or something?
I already posted this in the other thread (oops), but that bunker shot on 15 was so outrageous, I would have scoffed at doing that in a video game.
http://puttingupbricks.blogspot.com
And Rocco sinks the birdie! Now the pressure is all on Tiger.
Whoops. I jsut clapped hard once when Rocco made that and it echoed all the way down the hall. I may need to tone it down a bit to not get caught at work...
That was sweet.
Finally someone besides Bob May saying hello to Tiger. This is fun.
and BTW anon, Miller said on ESPN 1000 AM in Chicago this morning that he is rooting for Rocco
That shit was sick...wow...what a match.
Game On!
So wow. For once after an amazing shot, Tiger doesn't capitalize. Misses the short putt by his standards and Rocco is up 1 with 3 to go.
OH MY GOD!
Could Miller do any more to try to create a story.
Just announce the match ya jerk.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/graphics/2008/06/10/sgopen110.jpg ?
Holy shit...incredible...
(on the replay) "No... didn't go in that time."
At least, it sounded like that. I don't know, I'm in shock after Tiger's putt not going in.
Mediate has to survive 18... let's see if he has more success today than yesterday.
You get one Rocco; do you go with:
1. Rocco mediate
2. Rocco Baldeli
3. Rocco Dispirito
4. Rocko the Wallaby
Rocko's Modern Life all the way. No question.
Rocco has iced olive oil going through his veins.
Little late to the liveblog. Couple of comments:
1 - Tiger calmly chomping on an apple while Rocco paces and fidgets is like the ultimate villain shot. Couldn't you see Darth Vader just standing by casually eating an apple while Emperor Palpatine is killing Luke?
2 - Shouldn't he be Capt. Morgan, what with his penchant for making comments that lead you to believe he is drunk??
Dear fans at the course,
STFU while they're swinging.
Thanks,
Everyone trying to enjoy the event at home
Yeah, saying "GET IN THE HOLE" from the tee box on a 600yd par 5 is pretty fucking stupid.
"This is that Scott Hoch length"-- Johnny Miller
This is why people both love and hate Miller. It's fair to point out that Scott Hoch misses a bunch of those putts in crunch time, but none of the other analysts... though we're all thinking it at home.
I dunno, good vs bad, I think this goes in Johnny's good column I guess.
How fitting that it once again all comes down to the 18th.
Two hazards to contend with: the lake in front of the green and the ooze of Johnny Miller from the tower as he fornicates over how beautiful the 18th is.
Have you noticed that Tiger is really only wincing after GOOD shots? He doesn't wince after the bad ones, but it seems like when he hits a good drive, he grimaces and goes for the knee.
I don't even watch golf... and I'm on the edge of my seat refreshing AA.
I think this is what the PGA wants.
Is Tiger the only one who drinks that Tiger Gatorade? Seriously, does anyone drink that?
I too hate the fans that scream "GET IN THE HOLE!" or "YOU DA MAN!" .. god it's so annoying.
If Tiger gets this on the green, could we be looking at another hole for a playoff? Sudden death? Or will Rocco hold on and win one for the regular folk. Man, this tournament has been great.
Luis, you're spot on. This is not just great golf, but great television, period. Beats the hell out of Oprah in the afternoon, that's for sure.
This is the greatest USGA championship in the TV era for sure, perhaps of all-time.
Great goddamn time for my computer to crash and the live feed at usopen.com to not come back on. I'm gonna throw my computer through the window...
Where's Bennett and Dick to make this come out the "right" way?
Of course, I get a goddamn phone cal right as Rocco is teeing off.
Goddamit.
Great shot by Rocco. I honestly think this could be it. If Rocco makes this birdie putt... it's over. I think he'll do it guys.
can somebody make Hicks shut up?
"Cat on a Hot Can Roof" Tennessee would be proud to have his works misstated during such a historic event.
Each has not the easiest of leaves.
On behalf of every fan who wants to hear what's really going on, especially announcers taking with Howard Cosell Disease while fans cheer, SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Let's play 91!
Christ almighty that guy is good.
Got to play my league round tonight...should be a fun experience after watching this crazy shit.
90 holes isn't enough. Damn.
Golf is stressful
AA... the blog is doubly AWESOME, as I can just page down and see what the guys did on the 7th hole... so thanks again for that.
Aarrghh! I lost the online live feed again! Holes 1-17, no problems. Hole 18 i've lost it three times now...
Rocco must win either here or on 8. He is done if it goes back to 18.
Anon- it's a 7, 8, 10 rotation. NO other holes in play now.
Can I get more NBC peacocks on my screen please?
Thank you for playing our game, Rocco. Too bad. Too sad.
Rocco may have kissed his chances goodbye with that tee shot in the kitty litter.
If Rocco is, well, Rocky... does that make Tiger Ivan Drago, Clubber Lang (first fight, not likely), or Apollo Creed (first fight?)
Just asking.
Thanks for sticking around folks and sorry for not working in more of the comments. I'm trying to get the vids up as quick as possible.
Hole 16 is up and 18 should be up shortly.
Let's see...bug top left, check. Bug bottom left, check. Lower third, bottom right, check. Graphic, top right...no? FUCK! Get something up there...maybe Miller's head.
Never underestimate a man named Rocco or a man with a peace-sign belt buckle.
I don't think it would anon. Tiger hasn't given Rocco the knockout punch yet, and Rocco's hung around. He's still not out of chances yet. Tiger could still hit a poor Iron shot, Rocco could get a nice save and they could both par this hole.
Okay... or maybe not.
Okay, it's over now. Make it 14 for Tiger.
Give Rocco credit for joking around (with pretending to throw the ball) even though he's pretty screwed right now.
Gotta give some credit to the crowd at Torrey Pines. While not being disrespectful at all to Tiger...they're really showing Rocco some love.
Missed it by that much. So Rocco's got to hit this one to stay alive.
This got to be a record for comments on a golf-related post.
Golf is awesome.
Wow. What more can you say?
man hugs all around!
What a fantastic day... what a fantastic Open... WOW this was a lot of fun.
Thanks AA!
Man was that awesome. Great job by both Rocco and Tiger. This was so MUCH FUN!
And that's why we love sports.
What a day.
Great story all around.
Jim Nantz is jealous that he didn't get to give verbal fellatio to Tiger for 4 hours today. He thought that it was his exclusive territory.
Fun game: Imagine Gus Johnson saying any one of AA's lines that starts in ALL CAPS.
Seriously, AA, you should consider going into golf broadcasting.
Cherp Cherp cherp. Translated "Torrey Pines is Tigers binky."
thank goodness for walkmans that pick up tv audio.
it would have been so much better had rocco been able to slam the door, oh well.
at least it killed half the work day.
-dan
Three final thoughts:
Nike's new commercial featuring Tiger's father is amazing. Even Miller did a big no-no and made a comment about it on the air.
I am going to buy the highlight video this year, and I have NEVER bought a golf highlight video.
Only one thing would have made this day better: a few "oh my's" from former NBC guy Dick Enberg. That's surely what the rest of us were thinking the last few days.
Rocco: It's great being out here and not have to smell stinky butt Phil's trail!
Tiger: Oh hell yeah! No skid mark Phil!!!
AA... what's the opinion of Bob Costas?