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2008 US Open Update Tiger Woods Leads Rocco Mediate after 9 Holes: Tiger Woods came into this 18-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate with an incredible all-time record of 10-1 in playoffs. After grimacing through the weekend and showing signs of pain and fatigue on his recently operated knee, Tiger’s health was an issue at the start of this Monday afternoon’s playoff. On the Par-4 1st, Tiger had shot 2 double bogies and a birdie over the weekend. In today’s playoff, Tiger understood the importance of getting off to a decent start as he went on to par the dreaded first. Meanwhile Rocco couldn’t recover from the bunker, as he failed to get up-and-down, with a bogie on the first and immediately fell 1 shot behind Tiger.  On the par-3 188 yard third-hole, however, Rocco was able to gain some momentum back as Tiger drove his tee shot short, sinking his ball in the fairway bunker. Tiger went on to bogie the hole (falling to +1). Rocco followed Tiger’s miscue with a beautiful tee-shot that came inches from being a hole-in-one. Mediate’s ball settled in nicely at point blank range from the hole. Rocco went on to make birdie to take the lead, bringing him back to Even. Rocco surrendered his lead on the 5th, as Tiger drew even with Mediate at +1. However on the 6th Tiger put himself in perfect position to take the lead on the longest par-4 in history, and he did. Tiger birdied the 6th hole and took a one stoke lead at even par. Meanwhile, Rocco avoided dropping a shot, as he pared the 6th to remain at +1. Nevertheless, he moved on to the 7th down by one. On the 7th Tiger pushes his lead to 2 shots moving to –1 for the championship. Tiger drops a shot on the 8th making bogied, as Rocco takes full advantage making par, closing Tiger’s lead to 1. After 9 holes played in this 18-hole playoff, Tiger makes the turn with a slim 2 stroke lead on Rocco, on what has turned into a dog-fight.
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