“It was the most fun game of my life. “I want to play the 18-hole playoff again.”
Rocco Mediate (62, USA), a 'name of memories' who had a fierce 19-hole playoff with golf emperor Tiger Woods (USA) at the 2008 US Open, is recalling the good memories of that time and saying that the tradition of 18-hole playoffs in major tournaments should be revived. gave an opinion.
Mediate, who has been playing in the PGA Tour Champions, a stage for senior players over the age of 50, since 2015, is in advance of the final Charles Schwab Cup Championship of the season (total prize money of $3 million), which will be held for four days starting on the 7th. At the press conference, he recalled memories of the 2008 US Open and told the story.
Mediate, who won 6 times on the PGA Tour and 5 times at the PGA Tour Champions, said that even 16 years later, wherever he goes, he is asked about the famous match from that time, and said, “I also like to look back and tell the story.”
At the 2008 US Open held at Torrey Pines Golf Course near San Diego, California, Mediate was tied for the lead with Woods until the final round and had to play an 18-hole overtime the next day, and unfortunately lost in the 19-hole overtime that led to sudden death. Even though Woods was limping due to an injury at the time, he played a great game and won the championship trophy, leaving an indelible impression on the fans' memories. The U.S. Open maintained an overtime format of one more round (18 holes) until 2017, but since 2018, it has been held in a two-hole overtime format to take into account fans, media, sponsors, etc.
“The most impressive win was the 2010 Price.com Open. “I was really happy that I won one more PGA tour two years after that loss,” he said. “It would have been great if the US Open had been my last win, but I lost in overtime without making any major mistakes, so it remains a really good memory.”
He said, “At that time, the overtime game was the most fun game in my golf life,” and “I hope to have that experience again.” He continued, “What I mean is an 18-hole playoff in a major tournament,” and emphasized, “Major tournaments should be special, unlike regular tournaments.”
Mediate, who finished tied for the lead in the PGA Champions Tour Furyk & Friends tournament that ended on the 6th, won the trophy again in five years through sudden death overtime, and ranked 20th in this year's Charles Schwab Cup rankings, is among the top 36 players in the season, including Kyung-ju Choi and Yong-eun Yang. They are aiming for glory once again in the final match where only 5 people will participate.
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