June 16, 2008

WORLD No.1 Woods and fellow American Rocco Mediate will compete for the 108th US Open in an 18-hole play-off at Torry Pines on Tuesday morning (EST).

The pair finished the 72 regulation holes at one-under-par 283 on a difficult afternoon of scoring on the South Course.

Twice champion Woods, seeking his 14th major title, rolled in a four-metre birdie putt on the final hole for a 73 after Mediate signed off with a 71.

It is the first time the US Open will be decided in a play-off since South African Retief Goosen beat American Mark Brooks at Southern Hills in 2001. Mediate, 45, will try to become the oldest player to win the US Open, and indeed any major title.

England's Lee Westwood came to the 18th with a chance to join the play-off with a birdie, but he missed his six-metre putt to finish with a 73 for even-par 284.

Australia's Geoff Ogilvy finished tied for ninth at four-over-par, having been in contention earlier in the round before dropping away on the back nine top card a 74.

Mediate was watching from a scoring booth as Woods made his putt, which curled around the lip of the cup before dropping.

"Unbelievable, I knew he would make it,'' said Mediate, who is seeking his first major championship.

Woods started the day with a one-shot lead over Westwood, with Mediate a further shot back.

Woods owns a perfect 13-0 record in major championships in which he has held or shared the lead going into the final round, but the world No.1 couldn't get any momentum going as he posted his worst score of the week.

But he'll get a chance to take his total of major triumphs to 14 from 0200 (EST) on Tuesday as he continues his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus's record of 18.

"Hopefully tomorrow I will get off to a better start,'' said Woods, who dropped three shots in his first two holes with a double-bogey at the first and bogey at the second.

"We will have fun,'' Woods said of the play-off. "Rock is a great guy.''

Woods, hobbled by pain in his surgically repaired left knee, had held the lead through 12 holes, before a bogey at the par-five 13th - a hole he eagled in the two previous rounds.

At the same time, Mediate birdied 14 to claim a one-shot lead, which he held until Woods's final flourish.

Pos Name NAT Hole To Par 1 2 3 4 Total
T1 Rocco Mediate USA F -1 69 71 72 71 283
T1 Tiger Woods USA F -1 72 68 70 73 283
3 Lee Westwood ENG F E 70 71 70 73 284
T4 Robert Karlsson SWE F +2 70 70 75 71 286
T4 D.J. Trahan USA F +2 72 69 73 72 286
6 Miguel Angel Jimenez ESP F +3 75 66 74 72 287
T9 Camilo Villegas COL F +4 73 71 71 73 288
T9 Geoff Ogilvy AUS F +2 69 73 72 74 288

T13 Rod Pampling AUS F +5 74 70 75 70 289
T18 Robert Allenby AUS F +6 70 72 73 75 290
29 Aaron Baddeley AUS F +8 74 73 71 74 292