Playing golf for a living is a tough job. And it becomes ten times harder if one is playing for prestige at a major tournament and has to lock horns with the legendary Tiger Woods in the final round.

A similar situation happened with a veteran PGA Tour pro who had to face the biggest challenge on the golf course when he ended up face-to-face with Woods. Recalling the incident, the Pro reveals how he feels about it after 15 years.

PGA Tour veteran loved his chaotic playoff with Tiger Woods

Former PGA Tour pro Rocco Mediate’s best finish came in 2008 at the US Open, where he finished on T2. Although he didn’t win, he had the adventure of a lifetime when he was engaged in a face-off in the final round with Tiger Woods. Recently, Mediate recalled that core memory while he was engaged in a light-hearted round with a young Mini Tour Pro, Brain Mogg, at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

While on the ground, Mediate was asked, “Is it really difficult to play with Tiger?”

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He replied, “No, I love that the most. It’s chaos. I love chaos. It’s a sad thing, but I love chaos.”

In fact, the 6-time PGA Tour winner was on his way to becoming the oldest US Open winner at 45 and was leading by one on the final tee but Woods leveled after producing a birdie for the tie. While Mediate had a purpose coming into the 2008 US Open, it seems Woods had a greater purpose banked for it.  

The 2008 US Open winner was his greatest victory to date, Tiger admitted. Having recovered from knee surgery two months prior and still suffering from pain throughout the tournament, Woods made a poor start with a double bogey and was having a bad day. In the earlier rounds, Mediate made good finishes while Woods was struggling and clearly in pain.

‘He Was Bewildered’: Tiger Woods’ Former Caddie Sheds Light on Rocco Mediate’s Mind Games at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines

He Was Bewildered’: Tiger Woods’ Former Caddie Sheds Light on Rocco Mediate’s Mind Games at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines

The epic 18-hole battle between Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open

In the third round, the golf legend improved his performance and climbed the leaderboard. In the final round, on the 18th hole, Woods putted a stunning birdie and forced Mediate into an 18-hole playoff, which was back then a standard USGA playoff routine!

When the two faced off the next day in the playoffs, both had some stumbles as well as shining moments. And even though Woods ended up with four bogeys across the 18 holes, he ended the playoff with a stunning birdie on the 18th, rubbing salt into Mediate’s wound after forcing a playoff and beating him with a birdie on the same hole! Woods admitted,

“I don’t know how it even got this far but I’m very, very fortunate to have played 91 holes and come out on top. I think this is the best, just because of all the things I had to deal with.

“It’s a close one with the first (major) that I won (at the 1997 Masters). I dealt with a few things this week and just had to keep plugging along. I wasn’t feeling my best, I didn’t get off to the greatest of starts and when I finally got off to a good start (in the play-off), I screwed that up by finding the bunker on three.”

It was a legendary win that brought both of them immense fame. Though Woods enjoyed victory, Rocco ended up with the best performance at a major tournament and the anecdote of a lifetime. 

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