(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
June 15, 2008. Remember where you were?
One year ago today, eyes were glued to TV sets across the country, fixated on one of the best you-can't-make-this-up sports moments in recent history unfolding in San Diego.
Tiger Woods, the world's best golfer, had to sink this twelve foot putt. Not to win, mind you—Woods was merely trying to tie a remarkable four-day performance by 45 year-old Rocco Mediate, a man who hadn't won more than five PGA Tour events in his life.
America waited on pins and needles as Woods stood over his ball, still limping from a week of long walks and lingering pain from a recent knee surgery. Woods leaned over, set his feet, looked up to check his line, and stroked the putt.
The ball snuck in the right side of the hole, forcing an 18-hole playoff.
Mediate's response?
"I knew he'd make it."
The next day saw Mediate hold his own in one of the finest head-to-head playoffs ever seen. Through the 90th hole, five grueling rounds after they first started the Thursday before, Mediate and Woods remained even with each other.
Woods finally broke the tie one hole later, but Mediate's happy-go-lucky demeanor won him a lot of fans and his performance will not be forgotten anytime soon.
As the opening round of this year's US Open at Bethpage Black approaches later this week, it's only right that we wonder "Who will it be this year?"
It's unlikely that the '09 tournament will unfold with as much drama as it predecessor, but hey, why shouldn't it? Keep your eyes on these four golfers (in order of best challenger, first to last)—they might just be able to take Tiger to the wire for the second year in a row.
Tim Clark
The small-statured South African is widely considered the hottest golfer who has yet to win a PGA event. Clark finished second two weeks ago at the Crowne Plaza Invitational and will look to contend again this weekend.
Clark ranks fourth in driving accuracy and 24th in greens hit in regulation (GIR), which will help him a great deal when faced with the small greens, thick US Open rough and numerous well-placed bunkers at Bethpage.
Clark is also resilient, ranking sixth in "scrambling" (par conversions after missing the green) and eighth in "bounce back" (scoring over par on one hole and "bouncing back" to score under par on the next hole), so don't expect him to slump if he hits a bad shot.
One more thing—he saves his best for last. Clark averages 69.18 in final rounds this year, good enough for seventh on the Tour.
Steve Stricker
Stricker has won five PGA events, his most recent victory coming two weeks ago at the Crowne Plaza Invitational, where he beat (guess who?) Tim Clark in a playoff.
Stricker is a short game whiz, leading the Tour in scrambling and ranking tenth in GIR. He's also the best at scoring under par on par-fours, having made birdie or better more than 20 percent of the time.
Stricker is not a long hitter, nor is he remarkably accurate off the tee, but he's a good closer—this year, he leads the tour in average score on the back nine, just ahead of Clark and Woods.
For a guy who couldn't even get his Tour card four years ago, a good showing at Bethpage would be very sweet indeed.
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