Golf’s greats line up for the US Open

If Tiger Woods can hoist the trophy on one leg, can Phil Mickelson bring it home as the tournament’s oldest winner?

Tiger Woods celebrates after sinking a putt for a birdie on the 18th hole in the final round to force a play-off with Rocco Mediate in the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines. Woods went on to win the tournament, but won’t be there this year. Getty

Richard Allen

Jun 10, 2021 – 10.12am

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Of Tiger Woods’ three US Opens wins – Pebble Beach in 2000, Bethpage Black in 2002 and Torrey Pines in 2008 – the most exciting, and the one that demanded his best golf under huge duress, was the last.

Woods made a do-or-die three-metre putt on the 72nd hole to force an 18-hole play-off the following day against journeyman pro Rocco Mediate. When the putt dropped, Mediate – who was watching on television in the scorer’s hut – shook his head and said ruefully: “I knew he’d make it.” (He did, however, prefer Are You Kidding Me? for the title of his book on the tournament.)