Filed under: Golf, US Open
Rocco Mediate failed to defeat
Tiger Woods on the course at Torrey Pines, matching Woods for 90 holes at the U.S. Open before finally losing on the 91st. But Mediate accomplished something almost as difficult as equaliing Woods on the course: He became, over five days, Woods' equal in the hearts and minds of golf fans.
The average person sitting at home watching Mediate over the last five days said, "That's how I'd play if I got the chance." He smiled, he laughed, he looked like he was happy to be there. He was a 45-year-old ranked 157th in the world, and for 90 holes he was as good as Tiger Woods. By the end of U.S. Open, everyone who watched agreed with
Woods' assessment:
"Rocco's a great guy," Woods said. "There's not one person who can say they don't like Rocco."
Today, Mediate is
the most likable guy on tour. And he's joined the ranks of teams and athletes who lost a competition but emerged from it with a higher profile and greater respect from sports fans.
Continue reading Rocco Mediate Joins the Ranks of the Greatest Losers in Sports History
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