PGA

• Woods wasn't the only winner

  
  

  By Gerard Gallagher, Golf Editor Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - And on the sixth he rested and was refreshed.

  Well, probably not.

  As he told us in those old commercials, Tiger Woods doesn't take days off. But if he ever needed one, surely this was the time.

  Even those who simply watched were seeking out some rest.

  Who will soon forget Woods surviving five grueling days of golf over the longest course in major championship history to beat Rocco Mediate in an instant-classic U.S. Open? Thousands saw it live at picturesque Torrey Pines. Millions more watched on TV, glued to the primetime coverage the first four rounds and to the playoff on Monday.

  Sometimes wincing, sometimes using his club as a cane, Woods battled with a sore left knee through one of the longest U.S. Opens in history to finally win on the first-hole of sudden-death.

  This thing was supposed to go 72 holes. Then 18 more. And that would have been classic enough. But Woods kept all of our hearts pounding right along with his own while he produced yet another electric moment -- at least his sixth in four days -- by making birdie on No. 18 Monday to bring back the U.S. Open for another hole.

  The 91st hole.

  It all ended rather anticlimactically, really, as anticlimactic as a 91-hole major championship can end.

  When Mediate pulled his second shot out of the bunker at the par-four seventh and sent it skipping off the cart path and against the grandstand, all Woods needed to make was a routine par.

  Routine.

  That's probably not the right word for it, as there have been few more historically significant pars in our lifetimes. But that's what it was: a two-putt par to end a 100-hour marathon.

  "It was a great battle," said Woods.

  And for the world's best player, it marked the 14th major championship in a career that is defined by them. It was his third U.S. Open victory, and first in six years.

  For Mediate? He could walk away with the rare feeling of stepping into the Tiger Woods Spotlight and playing well enough to win. Well, almost win, at least.

  The 45-year-old veteran, looking to become the oldest U.S. Open winner as well as the oldest first-time major champion in history, gave it his all.

  "I threw everything I had -- the kitchen sink, everything -- everything I had at him," said Mediate.

  The five-time PGA Tour winner, who wore U.S. Open pins on his hat in a nod to his favorite tournament, had wanted to face Woods in just this type of situation before the end of his career.

  "I got my wish," said Mediate. "I want to do it again." Which is why Mediate joins Woods on the list of winners from the U.S. Open.

  WINNERS WOODS: The tournament will someday make up an entire chapter in the Woods biography.

  It was his Willis Reed Game, his Kirk Gibson Home Run. It was better than Pete Sampras and Michael Jordan playing sick. The best golfer who ever lived finally had his against-all-odds performance, and we won't soon forget it.

  MEDIATE: Nor will we soon forget Mediate, the 158th-ranked golfer who whetted our appetite for a David vs.

  Goliath story and nearly delivered it. Mediate was the consummate professional, showing the millions who got to see him for the first time why he's one of the best-liked players on the PGA Tour. He applauded Woods' approach to the 18th green Monday, the one that set up the birdie that sent the playoff to a sudden-death. He pretended to throw his ball onto the green before taking a free drop from the grandstand on the 19th hole, and the gallery cracked up. "It was an honor being out there," Mediate said. "And I'm sure that I scared him. I did good today." THE USGA: Its signature event got one storyline when Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott were grouped together for the first two rounds. It got another storyline in Woods' knee. Then, the playoff. It was a good week for the USGA.

  NBC: The network broadcast four rounds in primetime on the East Coast, drawing the tournament's best ratings in years.

  Millions got to see just what NBC wanted them to see: Tiger Woods at his dramatic best.

  Think the USGA will consider holding this thing on the West Coast more often? So do we.

  LEE WESTWOOD: He missed a 20-foot birdie putt at No. 18 on Sunday that could have sent him to the playoff with Woods and Mediate, settling for third place instead.

  But Westwood also handled the Woods spotlight with aplomb while playing alongside him in the final round, shooting a steady 71.

  "It's sickening not to be in the playoff," said Westwood, "but all in all I played pretty good all week and if somebody had said you're going to have a chance from 20 feet for a playoff, I would probably have taken that at the start of the week."LOSERS MICKELSON: Lefty was supposed to be the player challenging Woods for his first U.S. Open title. Instead, it was Mediate. Mickelson's biggest mistake may have been shelving his driver for the first two rounds, opting for a modified three-wood and an extra wedge. It was the longest course in major championship history.

  All due respect to the San Diego native's experience -- he grew up playing Torrey Pines and won three Buick Invitationals there -- but that was simply a case of over-thinking. Mickelson shot a 68 on Sunday to salvage a tie for 18th place.

  JACK NICKLAUS: We hesitated before placing him on this list. After all, Nicklaus can never really be considered a loser. But Woods moved within four major championships of tying Nicklaus' all-time record of 18, something he should be able to do within two years.

  And he did it playing on a bum knee. Nicklaus knows Woods will eventually beat the record. That doesn't mean he doesn't care.

  TACT: Two spectators, a father and son, were arrested during the second round on Friday after getting into a scuffle with Adam Scott's caddie. The duo had heckled Stuart Appleby on the 18th tee, and were doing the same to Scott on the ninth hole. Mickelson's caddie also intervened. Clearly, it was a case of over-serving.

  BUICK OPEN, AT&T NATIONAL: "I'm going to shut it down for a little bit and see what happens," Woods said after winning on Monday, meaning he will probably skip these two events to rest for the British Open next month. The AT&T National is Woods' event, and Buick is one of his biggest sponsors.

  06/16 22:32:26 ET