Tiger Woods Birdie Putt
The U.S. Open was this weekend. It was supposed to be done today, until Tiger Woods started putting together some ridiculous golf Saturday and today. I was watching yesterday, and Tiger was making everything. EVERYTHING. He chipped from just beyond the fringe, and the ball freaking HIT THE FLAG POLE and dropped in. That’s crazy. Makes the field he’s playing against freaked out. Anyhow, the big news today was this Rocco Mediate, who lives and breathes the U.S. Open. His is being billed as a “Cinderella Story” by the networks, because Mediate hasn’t won much in a long time and now he’s coming out of essentially nowhere to challenge, as he says, “the number one player on grass.”
This brings us to today, when Woods needed to sink a 12 foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff against Mediate on Monday. And, of course, Tiger made the shot. Check out this excerpt from Ken Klavon’s liveblog of the event at the official U.S. Open website:
A relieved Tiger looks like he’s shaking. probably from the adrenaline. “[The putt] was a little wobbly,” he said. “I played two balls outside right and I just stayed committed. I felt like I was playing ‘Plinko.’”
I swear, this guy must have sold his soul to the devil. Can anyone be that good?
Well, can they? Unbelievable.
Comments
Dan McKeown
The modern day technology available is simply hilarious sometimes. I have a live text feed keeping me up-to-date with the US Open playoff action compliments of the BBC right now:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/7457371.stm
Remember the days when only four sporting events were on TV for an entire week during the summer? Usually three of the four were baseball games too. This last weekend I was able to watch Euro2008, the US Open, MLB, the College World Series, MLS, the NBA playoffs (come on Celtics!), and was able to actively avoid some NASCAR race. Great time to be a sports fan/loser who watches more sports than he plays.
Alexander Micek
“The lead has changed hands twice already.”
This is fun to watch, even via text-only updates!
Dan McKeown
‘How does Tiger cope with some of the clowns which follow him? “Cheeeeeeese!” is the cry just yards from his eardrums as he drives down the fairway.’
My favorite quote of the round so far, there are bound to be more.
Dan McKeown
One other thing, the Euro2008 tournament is about to start (1:45pm CST) and the BBC does a similar text update for those matches. The moderators can be hilarious, here is a little gem:
“1849: What kind of musical madness is this? The DJ at the Ernst Happel Stadium appears to be playing Robbie Williams’ Angels backed by the drum beat from Queen’s We Will Rock You. My ears are bleeding.”
and one more because its referring to poop:
“1834: Back to today’s action and the entire Austrian camp appears to have been struck with a bad case of Tourettes ahead of this game (see 1825). Striker Martin Harnick appears on the front of one newspaper, suggesting Germany will be so nervous, it will have a disastrous effect on their bowels (or words to that effect).”
Again, what a great time to be a sports fan (but terrible time to be at work…).
Alexander Micek +1
HAHA! Oh man, these commentators are great. I’m sold on BBC liveblogging henceforth. That said, here’s the latest from the Woods/Mediate matchup (which is within 1 freaking fracking stroke!):
“Aliens could take command of the planet right now and I wouldn’t notice. This is captivating, no?”
Alexander Micek
Holy hell. Mediate, #157 in the world vs. Woods, #1 in the world, and they’re tied with four holes to play.
Alexander Micek
Watching live on U.S. Open. Hole 15. This. Is. Astounding. Mediate with a great shot off the fairway and onto the green. Woods in the sand, fires one out and it’s even closer to the pin than Mediate.
Dan McKeown
Great finish, both should be pleased. Obviously one will be more pleased than the other since he won but a great sudden death round. I will not say who won just in case someone has Tivo-ed the playoff and does not want to know.
Dan McKeown
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/7458357.stm
That story makes Woods’ victory all the more impressive. Certainly deserves the #1 ranking if he can get a playoff victory with a torn MCL and two stress fractures. Unreal.