Rocco Mediate Sheds Light on His Famous Playoff Duel With Tiger Woods at the 2008 U.S. Open

The 2008 U.S. Open was memorable for so many reasons. The championship showed the world how interesting a golf tournament can be and how unpredictable the sport is. Although Rocco Mediate lost the title to Tiger Woods, he has nothing but good memories. 

When the 2008 U.S. Open started, fans were excited to watch Phil Mickelson and Woods battling it out in the first two rounds for the first time ever. However, what nobody expected was to see a 158 ranked golfer qualifying for the championship and making his way to the top two. 

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Mediate was ranked at 158 and had to go through the qualifiers to achieve a spot in the U.S. Open. While Tiger struggled in the first round and scored a 7-over par, Rocco was in third place. Everyone knew Tiger would win the championship. However, the spectators still remember the confidence Rocco displayed to beat the GOAT.   

Rocco Mediate has only positive memories from his duel against Tiger Woods

It is hard to keep a straight face when you are facing the GOAT in the final round of a major championship. However, the then 45-year-old didn’t show any nervousness, as he was confident that he would win the major. 

“I knew I was going to win because I was better than [Woods] through the air. U.S. Opens are all about through the air, where the ball was going,” said Rocco. Mediate explained that even when it was evident that Tiger was going to win, he didn’t lose hope. “I am not losing. I’m going to beat this guy,” Rocco remembered the pep talk he gave to himself. 

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“Roc, it’s nice to see you back.” When Tiger said this to him, he said it was the biggest compliment he had ever received since it came from the GOAT of golf. He explained that he had once beaten Tiger in 1999, and the Open was the first tournament they’d competed against each other ever since. 

Although Rocco lost the championship, he has nothing but good memories from the tournament. He still feels proud that he stood against the best in the world and didn’t lose hope.