After watching Tiger Woods’ performance the last half dozen holes of the 3rd round of the US Open today I can’t help but quote Jack Buck: I don’t believe what I just saw! That knee was hurting him like hell but he pulled off several shots and putts any one of which could’ve served as signature moments in his career. The eagle putt on 13 is one that could’ve very easily been struck past the hole and off the false edge 50 yards below the green. Because of that a lot of people would’ve struck it tentative with not enough break allowed for and missed short left by a considerable margin. Not Tiger. He read the putt, struck it perfectly, and bam! Then on 15 tee he hurt his knee bad, to the point you have to start wondering about him finishing the round at all. He got around the course, even got a lucky chip in birdie on 17. Then on 18 he pulled off a perfect fade drive to protect the knee as much as possible, and a perfect cut 5 wood that almost came back off the slope to be stiff to the hole. No worries, though, he just made the slick downhiller for another eagle and the 54 hole lead.
Ordinarily you would say this tournament is over. Tiger leads by one on Lee Westwood and two on Rocco Mediate, an accomplished Englishman and a wily American tour veteran, people not usually in Tiger’s class. The rest of the field is at least 4 shots back. No sweat. But that knee is a serious concern. He gutted it out great. I’m sure it’ll get some of the greatest medical care possible tonight and tomorrow morning. But it would not be shocking if that thing stiffens up tonight and he can’t even play tomorrow, or where he staggers the first few holes trying to loosen it up, or to where he can never fully go after shots tomorrow. In any event, if Tiger can pull this championship out, it would likely become the defining win of his career. It should make for compelling television.
