My question is very basic. If Rocco should win today how does history remember this Open. Does he get the credit for his consistant play or will it always be remembered as the one where Tiger lost because he had knee surgery.

Who will win this year's U.S Open by the Playoffs? I really want to know other golfer's opinion, so I made this poll. I would be honored if you would vote, so we could see how many think it will be Tiger and how many Rocco.

Excellent question mate.

I've been thinking about this since yesterday. First of all, I'm pretty sure that Rocco wouldn't care either way. I'm sure he wouldn't have minded if the whole field were struck down by food poisoning.

Secondly, I think we'll have to wait and see how it plays out. If Rocco shoots -2 and wins, he probably deserved it. If he shoots +2 and wins, we'll believe that Tiger could've beaten him if he was fully fit.

Let's not forget that Tiger's capable of spraying the ball all over the place without a knee injury and on a course like this, you get punished. If Rocco plays his own game and can shoot level par, I believe he could be picking up the Trophy this evening.

I'll go out on a limb (wink) and say Tiger will win but I don't root for Goliath to slay David. So I'll be pulling for Rocco to take advantage of what will probably be his only chance to win a major.

On second thought, a Rocco win is not all that unlikely. If he continues to hit fairways and greens and Tiger continues to hit it all over the place and can't come up with any more mind boggling heroics, Rocco will win.

It's a playoff full of contrasts and it could be very interesting.

I am pulling for Rocco, but expect tiger to win.

Rocco has been playing above his ability. Tiger's level of play is pretty much standard for him.

Rocco Ouimet v. Tiger Vardon...that's how unexpected and lopsided I see it. I'm a Tiger fan, but I'm really rooting for Rocco in this one.

i like the rocco ouimet, idea. I do think Jack fleck is a more reasonable analogy though.

I still think tiger will win today ...even if he has to crawl from shot to shot....but rocco has been great, and no matter what, win or lose mr. mediate has greatly lifted his profile through this tournament.

To me, Tiger proved that hobbled or not, he can play some amazing golf. So I don't feel the knee is an issue. I hope Rocco goes out and has fun. Plays his game and lets it fall how it does. I think it would be cool if Rocco wins.

I think Rocco has a chance if Tiger has another slow start. If not the match will be pretty lopsided.

I think the winning score will be 71.

Tiger has nothing to lose today. If he loses, it won't be because he was outplayed, it will only be because of his injury. If he wins, the fawning and man crushes will surpass the already ridiculous level they are currently at.

If Rocco wins there will still be more attention on Tiger, and he will have only won because Tiger is "on one leg". And if he loses it will be said that Tiger can beat anyone even being hurt, and Rocco played way over his head for four days.

I just feel that is how it will be written in the history books.

Tiger wins. If you watched yesterday Rocco was so nervous over the last 5 holes and kinda skated thru those holes. Plus the added pressure of actually playing with Tiger in a 18 hole playoff. It could be a very boring 18 hole playoff. Then again Tiger has doubled the 1st hole 3 out of 4 times, so you never know. What are the chances we see Tiger hit 3 wood off the 1st today?

Also one final thought here. If Tiger goes par birdie on 1 and 2 then I think it's over in the first 2 holes.

I'm rooting for Rocco, but think it's a tough battle for him. It all depends on when Tiger takes his "pain medication". If he learned from yesterday and takes it before the round, I see him winning by 2.

Should be fun to watch, too bad I just got off a mid shift. Gotta love DVR!!

I'm hoping Rocco wins it. Not anti-Tiger, just gotta love the way Rocco has approached the Open, embraced it and looked like he was having fun.

Again, not knocking Tiger and all the talk about his knee, the media makes more out of it than he does. But, hardly a mention about Rocco's back. He's had surgery on it, has kept him on the shelf for a while in the past, and he's only one hack out of the rough from being lame.

like above post. If Tiger can at least par the first hole it's probably over. I'd like to see him not hook one into the ice plants on 13. lay up Tiger.

You must have been watching a different tournament than I was,,,,, rocco made solid 5 footer on 16,,,,, after he hit is iron right at the flag and it bounced long,,,, he hits the fairway on 17 and hits it right at it again ,,,, about 15 feet to 18 feet past the hole,,,, makes another 3 footer dead in the middle and misses 18 fairway a little,,, lays up and then overcooks a wedge right over the hole and another solid 2 putt,,,,, that does not sound like skating by to me. I hope Rocco pounds him,,,, TIger is the best golfer in the world but Rocco has hit it 10 shots better than Tiger this week,,,, if not for Tigers putter he finishes worse than Phil,,,,, I wish people would get off the Tiger band wagon.

I agree guys, no disrespect to Tiger at all, but I think a Rocco win may be one of the most popular wins of all time by the players. Huge underdog, has overcome a TON of adversity, and everyone I know who has met him says he is the worlds nicest guy on tour... not that that should matter, but it does to me.

If Tiger wins, I believe it would be one of the biggest victories in his historic career, probably physically 50% at best, but sure doesn't affect his putting!!!

I sincerely hope both guys play well and both will be able to hold their heads high after it is over.

Kevin

I love Rocco. I think it would be great if he wins. But even with Tiger spraying his tee shots all over and Rocco hitting it in the fairway, they are tied for greens hit AND putts. If Tiger hits it just a little better off the tee, I think he wins easily.

Alot of smiles and relaxed looks from these two guys today.

I absolutely love hearing Rocco talk about what an honor it is to be in this situation. That is how they should feel every week to be playing where they are playing. It's always good to hear one of those guys expressing this.

Also good to see Tiger raise his arms in the air and smile after FINALLY hitting it in the first fairway.

Should be a great day with a lot of great golf!

Exactly!

If Tiger wins: Gutsy, heroic performance.. where anyone else should not have even been playing under those conditions of recovering from an injury..
If Tiger loses: the excuses will be, "Well.. he shouldn't have been playing so soon.. should have took a few more weeks off".. "He wasn't 100%" .. etc.. etc.. BS BS

If Tiger wins, the man-crushes will be so huge, television announcers will be masturbating over themselves ..

i wonder if rocco is going to be sponsored by starbucks after this ?

Agreed. I like Tiger but some of his fans and the media are too much. Tiger and Phil are great but with all the endorsements that a huge corporate PR machines for endless products.

Rocco is treated like some after thought journeyman even though he beat all the best players in the world except one and he may still do it. Rocco's out there playing like an avg Joe using what looks to be off the shelf X-20s. Amazing.

This was a tough course where great names looked like duffers. I am afraid Rocco will get little credit if he wins or loses.

My prediction (which I made b4 the playoff began): Tiger 70, Rocco 76.

I don't understand all the complaining about the hype around Tiger. If you look at this thread almost everyone's on the Rocco bandwagon. Listen to the US Open crowds, there is more cheering for Rocco than for Tiger. Maybe the media and press go a little heavy on the praise but that's understandable, Tiger wins a lot. I know he's not an everyman, he curses, whines, fakes injury, gets too many lucky breaks on the course, but if you look at his competitive record, he's among the all-time greats. That is enough to make me a fan.

Wonder how many "f-bombs" Tiger will lash out today.. or club slamming episodes that display that wonderful sportsmanship that the USGA is attempting to promote with its "For the good of the game" commercials.

well i knew the haters would be out in full force after this one. Once again with the usual Tiger swears and throws clubs why is he the only one that does this. this observation is getting very lame...

Slamming clubs into the ground has nothing to do with sportsmanship. Get back to me if he lashes out with f-bombs directed at another competitor, or more interestingly, actually slams his club into one of them.

Otherwise this continues to be a non-issue. At least to anyone who actually understands sportsmanship. Now the word police and People for the Ethical Treatment of Golf Clubs, on the other hand, may have a problem. They also need a hobby.

well put!

first things first... tiger woods is the best golfer to ever play period.we could argue about jack being just as good, but i think we all know tiger is the best. That being said, Rocco was robbed!!

before you start giving me crap about what i just said, think about it.how many people put in tigers position would make that putt on 18 to continue the playoff? the day before tiger made three strokes that robbed rocco. the chip in on 17 being the most prominent one. from there tiger wouldve made at least bogey, instead, tiger birdies.



Now im not taking any credit away from tiger, he deserved to win this open after his brilliant play, however, rocco had the tournament.

I agree 100%. That said it was the best U.S. OPEN ever.

Rocco may have lost the tourney but I'll tell you what he won over millions fans in the process....Plus people will look back and (possibly) say the best major of Tiger's career was against a 45 year old son of a barber from Greensburg, PA where the best golf the world has ever seen was witnessed.

I was pulling for Rocco too,,,, Rocco hit it 10 shots better over the 4 day tournament than Tiger did. TIGERS putter is just unbelievable, He is the best pressure putter the game has ever seen, bar none. But I do have to question your opinion that TIGER is the best player to play the game. We have no way to prove any of this but I honestly believe that if you give Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus in their prime the equipment and technology that Tiger has today that both of them or atleast Jack would be as good or better than Tiger. In no way can you say at this time that Tiger Woods is the best to have ever played the game or in my opinion you cant.

Rocco Mediate can proudly take his place alongside those other commendable USGA runner-ups Buddy Marucci and Steve Scott.