U.S. Open Update: Tiger Birdies to Force Playoff

By John Nestor
PA SportsTicker Golf Editor

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Rocco Mediate nearly won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines on Sunday. Tiger Woods will have something to say about that on Monday. With Mediate holding a one-stroke lead and watching from a scoring booth, Woods holed a 15-foot birdie putt on 18 to force an 18-hole playoff Monday. "Unbelievable, I knew he would make it," Mediate said after Woods' putt wrapped around half of the cup before dropping. Mediate shot an even-par 71 to finish at 1-under-par 283.

Woods, who played his first two holes in 3-over, signed for a 73. Woods entered Sunday at 3-under and with a one-stroke lead over Englishman Lee Westwood. But Woods never got in a consistent rhythm Sunday, carding his worst round of the week. Westwood had a chance for a birdie on 18 as well, but missed from 25 feet and finished a stroke out of the playoff at even-par 284.