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Victory may prove costly for Woods

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-19 09:58

SAN DIEGO - Tiger Woods completed the most satisfying major victory of his career at the US Open on Monday but his playoff triumph over fellow American Rocco Mediate may have come at a cost.

Tiger Woods kisses the trophy after beating Rocco Mediate in the playoff round of the U.S. Open golf championship at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 16, 2008. [Agencies]

After holding off a late fightback by Mediate to clinch the title at the 91st hole on a sun-kissed day at Torrey Pines, Woods said he would take a break to rest his painful left knee.

"I'm glad I'm done," the world number one told reporters after winning his 14th major championship, and a third US Open crown.

"I really don't feel like playing any more. It's a bit sore."

Woods frequently experienced jabbing pain during his week at Torrey Pines after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee two months ago, two days after he finished second at the Masters.

Asked when he was likely to return to the PGA Tour, Woods said: "Not for a while. I'm going to shut it down for a little bit here and see what happens.

"I need to take a little bit of a break."

Jeopardy

Woods is almost certain to skip the June 26-29 Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Michigan, a tournament he usually plays. Also in jeopardy is the AT&T National at Congressional the following week, an event he hosts.

After that, he would be expected to appear at the July 17-20 British Open at Royal Birkdale, the third major of the year.

"To be honest with you, I really don't know," Woods said of the British Open. "I pushed it pretty hard this week and I just want to enjoy it and we're going to re-evaluate after this event and see what happens."

When asked if he had been told that his knee could be further injured by playing golf, he nodded his head in agreement.

Asked if that had happened at Torrey Pines, he replied: "Maybe."

There was plenty for Woods to smile about, though, after securing his 14th major title on one of his favourite courses.

"I always loved playing down here ever since I played as a junior," he said of Torrey Pines, where he has clinched the PGA Tour's Buick Invitational a record six times.

"And now that I come back here to play as a professional, and in a major championship on top of that and to have won, it's an unbelievable feeling, really."

Given the uncertainties he faced over his knee coming into the US Open, Woods ranked his Torrey Pines victory as his most satisfying in a major championship.

"I think this is the best, just because of all of the things I had to deal with," he said.

"All things considered, I don't know how it even got this far but I'm very, very fortunate to have played 91 holes and then come out on top.

"It's either this one or my first one," he added, referring to his first major victory at the 1997 Masters. "This week had a lot of doubt to it, to be honest with you. I hadn't walked 18 holes, until the first round here, since Augusta."

No Torrey letdown

Mediate was disappointed rather than upset after narrowly failing to pull off a stunning playoff victory over Woods.

Mediate, who has come close to quitting the game because of perennial back trouble, led Woods by one playing the last before being edged out at the 19th hole.

"I gave him the best that I had and it wasn't quite good enough, but it almost was," Mediate, 45, told reporters. "It wasn't like I got my butt handed to me today.

"And I know that I still can do this stuff and I want to try that again sometime, somewhere. I'm disappointed a little that I didn't beat him but just disappointed, not upset."

Mediate, who began last season as a TV commentator with his playing career in doubt because of a chronic back injury, came from three down after 10 holes at Torrey Pines.

He reeled off three consecutive birdies from the 13th to lead Woods by one before his opponent forced sudden-death with a two-putt birdie at the 18th where Mediate could only par.

"I tried to hit a low hook on 18, just a little too much," Mediate said of his tee shot which ended up in a fairway bunker. "I had a putt at it. I missed it, but I had the putt.

"After my putt went in on 15, I said, if I can keep hitting good shot after good shot, which I pretty much did, I'm going to win this golf tournament. I threw everything I had."