Bow to the Wounded Knee of Tiger Woods

If anymore proof was needed as to the other-worldliness of Mr. Tiger Woods...we got it this weekend. Anyone who saw his gritty performance on day three of the 2008 US Open will, I'm willing to bet, never forget it for the rest of their lives.

People will be telling their grand kids about "the time Tiger took the lead with one leg tied behind his back."  I'm sure the legend will grow and be embellished as the years go by—but it doesn't need to be. 

This year's US Open performance is plenty legendary simply taken as is. 

With six holes to go, he was five strokes back. At the end of that third round, he was one shot in the lead. Oh, and every single swing—every step, every mile—had him wincing in pain. See, a mere eight weeks ago, Tiger had knee surgery.

Most people thought he was crazy to try and play such a grueling course as Torrey Pines so soon after that procedure.

And almost as soon as his first tee shot, the announcers and fans began searching out any evidence that the knee was bothering him. They didn't have to wait long to find it.

Listen people...on Saturday, on one of the last tees, Tiger nearly fell over after his shot and had to steady himself with his hand for a few seconds. The guy was clearly in serious pain, yet contending for the lead in a major tournament.

Curt Schilling's bloody sock has nothing on Woods!

But on Saturday, he made an eagle at 13, chipped in for birdie on 17, and then drained another long, curving eagle putt on 18 to surge into the lead.

Then, yesterday (Sunday), he struggled some more. Everyone struggled, really. But Tiger was the only one fighting his knee as well as the course.

With Rocco Mediate at one-under in the clubhouse, Tiger needed a birdie on 18 to force a tie. And you don't have to be the amazing Kreskin to know how it turned out (he made it...duh).

As happy as Tiger is to have forced a playoff, it's probably the last thing his knee needed. The US Open is unique in that they break a tie not with sudden death...but with an entire 18-hole round the next day. 

So now he gets an entire fifth day of pain.  How much you want to bet he doesn't care?  Honestly, is there anyone that thinks this tournament would have been remotely close if Tiger had two good legs?

Here is a guy about as crippled as a golfer can be, unable to use a lot of his signature shots due to pain, and he bested every single able-bodied golfer in the field save one.

Tiger and Rocco tee off today at 12:00 noon Eastern. And I feel bad for Mr. Mediate. You thought there was a lot of pressure yesterday?! Think again.

Tiger can shoot 18 over today and lose miserably, and no one can take anything away from the way he added to his legend this weekend. The guy is simply amazing.  One of the most exciting tournaments ever.