The American Spectator

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Tiger vs. Rocco

By Philip Klein on 6.15.08 @ 9:26PM

One of the great things about golf is that unlike other sports in which people clearly cheer for one side or the other, in this game the crowd tends to pull for all the players. And really, how can you root against either of these two competitors in the U.S. Open playoff? Tiger Woods, one of the greatest ever, was literally grimacing in pain from his wounded knee, shouting "ouch" after some shots, and using his club as a cane to help him walk the course. He didn't have his best stuff on Sunday, and made several bad decisions, but was able to gut through and force a playoff in dramatic fashion by making a spectacular putt at the 18th. Rocco Mediate, meanwhile, seems to have stepped right out of the first Rocky film. A 45-year old who hasn't won anything since 2002, barely qualified for the event, and now has a chance to win it. It was just wonderful to watch him on the golf course today -- you could see he was enjoying every minute. So, good luck to both of them in this playoff, and may the best man win.

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