Woods Claims U.S. Open Title in Sudden-Death OT

Tiger Woods yesterday celebrated perhaps the greatest tournament win in his career.

The crippling pain in his knee apparently did little to alter his game, as he won the U.S. Open in a 19-hole playoff.

Against all odds, Woods hoisted his 14th major trophy after forcing a sudden-death playoff against Rocco Mediate. Woods won on the 19th hole, drawing cheers from some 24,000 fans.

The hole cup is 108 mm in diameter, which can bring joy or sadness to golfers.

Woods led Mediate in the 10th hole of overtime by three shots, but Mediate birdied the next three holes while Woods bogeyed them, giving Mediate the lead.

Missing birdies on the 16th and the 17th holes, Woods sank a 326-yard tee shot on the fairway, then chipped his second shot on the green. Though he missed a 12-meter eagle putt, he birdied the hole, while Mediate botched a five-meter birdie putt.

Having survived the 18th hole, Woods forced sudden-death overtime. He easily put the ball on the green while Mediate traveled a long journey through bunker, cart road and gallery to the green on three strokes. Mediate missed a six-meter par putt, allowing Woods to sink a 1.2-meter putt for the dramatic win.

Apparently showing no rust since his April 15 knee surgery, Woods won his 14th major title and now needs just four more to tie Jack Nicklaus.

Woods has won 11 out of 12 tournaments that have gone into overtime.

This season, he has won four of six tournaments and is the PGA’s money leader with 5.8 million dollars, including 1.35 million from the U.S. Open. Woods’ career record of 65 PGA titles ranks third behind Sam Snead (82 wins) and Nicklaus (73 wins).

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