Tiger's triumph at Torrey was most memorable event of '08, maybe ever
2008 Season In Review
The bleachers hummed with anticipation as everyone who surrounded the 18th green at Torrey Pines was certain something extraordinary was about to occur. Then they saw Tiger Woods' ball fly into the fairway bunker, and his not-so-great layup shot trickle into the rough, followed by moans of concern.
Woods then wedged his ball onto the green back on June 15, within 15 feet of the cup, needing to hole that birdie putt to tie Rocco Mediate and force an 18-hole playoff.
It was about as dramatic as dramatic gets.
A confession: Standing behind the par-5 18th green, watching Woods walk toward the putting surface on his wounded left leg, hearing the buzz through the crowd and seeing the distance between his ball and the pin, I thought Tiger was going to miss and Mediate would be one of the most unlikeliest U.S. Open champions.
There is no better clutch putter in the game's history than Woods, and we've all seen him make his share of knee-knocking putts. But this was not about steadying the nerves and being committed enough to a stroke to knock in a 5-footer that most think you should make.
This was about making a putt that was far from a gimme. It was 15 feet, downhill, with a slight break, and would travel over some bumpy ground. If it were the first hole or the fifth or the ninth, you might say he had a good chance, but never would you absolutely expect anyone, even Tiger, to make it.
And now he's supposed to do so under make-it-or-lose circumstances in a major? Even Tiger has to miss one of these once, correct?
Nope. At least, not this time. The ball trundled toward the hole and slipped in the right side, setting off hysteria in the grandstands and a more-than-justified celebration by Woods on the green. Meanwhile, Mediate could only smile, knowing he was not the first -- or last -- to be on the wrong end of Woods' dramatics.
"How much better can this get?'' Mediate said that fateful day in June. "I knew he would make that putt. That's what he does.''
It was the most memorable moment of the 2008 golf season, one that saw its share. In truth, the entire U.S. Open was a memorable moment, from the pairing of Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott during the first two rounds to the well-accepted Torrey Pines layout to the incredible play by Mediate, who won a ton of fans in nearly pulling off the impossible. And, of course, Woods.
It was one of the most remarkable golf performances ever. We didn't know it at the time, but Woods was playing on a torn ACL and a left leg that had two fractures, a result of overzealous training after knee surgery. He had not played since the Masters in April and had barely been able to practice.
"When this story is told,'' said his coach Hank Haney on that 18th green, "it will go down as his greatest victory.''
A few days later, the story was told. Tiger was shutting it down for the year to have reconstructive knee surgery. He had played in six PGA Tour events, and won four of them, including his 14th major championship. He added another victory on the European Tour. And the golf world anxiously awaits his return.
Of course, plenty of doom and gloom was forecast for the game of golf without its biggest and most successful player, but the game continued on nicely without him. Sure, it wasn't the same, but it was still pretty good. Here are some other memorable moments from the 2008 golf season.
The Ryder Cup: We don't take sides in these things, but the event did not need another epic United States defeat. The Europeans had won three in a row and five of the past six, and the Americans went in as underdogs against a squad that boasted back-to-back major champion Padraig Harrington, Ryder Cup stalwart Sergio Garcia, veteran Lee Westwood and on-form Robert Karlsson.
But without Woods, Paul Azinger guided the U.S. to a rare fast start and never looked back. The Americans managed to take a comfortable lead into the Sunday singles, and got inspired play from rookies such as Anthony Kim, Boo Weekley and Hunter Mahan. For once, the Americans appeared to be having fun, and much credit goes to Azinger, who shook up the points structure, had captain's picks increased to four and came up with a unique concept of groupings for practice and competition. It all worked, and ought to make the 2010 competition in Wales all the better.
Padraig Harrington: On the eve of the British Open, the Irishman was on the brink of withdrawing because of a wrist injury. He hung in there, played during the worst of the weather during Thursday's opening round, then put himself in position to go head-to-head with one of the game's icons in Greg Norman. Trailing by a shot standing on the 10th tee, Harrington played the nine of his life, shooting a 32 to claim the Claret Jug for the second straight year. Most we'll remember his 5-wood second shot to the 17th green that clinched the title. But one image was hard to forget: Harrington playing in short sleeves while everyone else was shivering.
