Winning a U.S. Open is the most difficult win in professional golf and on Sunday it became a bit more difficult. After 72 holes of tournament play the tournament continues on Monday with an 18 hole playoff between tournament favorite Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate. Oddsmakers at Bodog(Bodoglife.com) have installed Woods as a 700-moneyline favorite while odds on Mediate winning are at +450.
“I’ve never been in this situation before,” said Woods. “After the start I got off to, I could have played myself right out of the tournament. I’m very fortunate to get into a playoff.” Woods is 13-0 in majors when leading after three rounds.
Lee Westwood missed a 15-foot putt for a birdie on the final hole eliminating him from joining Woods and Mediate in the playoff.
Finding himself in the playoffs of a major tournament is something Woods has become accustomed, however; an 18 hole playoff round is a first for the worlds number-one professional golfer. Woods defeated Bob May in four holes to win the 2000 PGA Championship and defeated Chris DiMarco in sudden death to win the 2005 Masters.
Mediate has five tour wins his last coming in the 2002 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic. His highest finish in the U.S. Open was fourth in 2001. Mediate also tied for sixth in 2005.
The last U.S. Open decided in a playoff was at Southern Hills whenre Retief Goosen defeated Mark Brooks in 2001.
