Update: At the time this story was written, the world thought Tiger Woods suffered only from a sore knee after having an operation to remove excess cartiledge. However, it was discovered Wednesday that the world's best golfer played the entire US Open - all 91 holes of it - with a torn ACL and two stress fractures in the tibia of that leg. There were those, particularly Retief Goosen, fellow PGA Tour player, that mused Woods was faking or exagerating his pain. It appears, Woods is good enough to beat the world's best on one leg. Unfortunately, golf fans everywhere will have to wait until next year to find out how everything plays out. Woods will undergo surgery to repair the damage and be out for at least 9 months.

 Monday saw an unlikely competition between 45 year-old Rocko Mediate from Western Pennsylvania doing battle against the world’s best golfer, Tiger Woods in a showdown that is sure to live on in golf lore for centuries to come.

How and where?

It was the 104th annual US Open Golf Championship at Torre Pines in Southern California. After Woods pulled another miraculous finish seemingly out of sheer will, to tie Mediate on the 72nd hole of the championship. There was an 18-hole playoff schedule for Monday and the stage was set.

You see, Mediate was ranked, going in, as the 158th best golfer in the world. Woods is not arguably the best golfer that ever lived, he simply is, but Mediate dug in his heels, rolled up his proletariat sleeves and challenged the best golfer in the world to a duel of epic proportions.

Hole after hole, the older journeyman kept pace with Woods, falling behind by three strokes at one point and battling back to tie and eventually take the lead by one shot nearing the last few holes of the 18-hole playoff. It came down to 18, a challenging par 5 that Woods had used to land in the playoffs and that had been difficult for Mediate.

Woods’ final drive of the playoff, unlike many of his other errant shots landed in the fairway and he had an excellent shot at making the green in two with a chance for eagle.

Mediate was not as fortunate. His drive landed in a fairway bunker and he was in prison, under the lip. After laying up and taking his third shot to reach the green, Mediate knew Woods would not miss two putts and settle for a par. He had to sink a 40 foot snake to keep his one shot lead and win the US Open – the oldest player in history to win, and what would have made him the oldest golfer to ever win his first major tournament.

Unfortunately, Mediate pushed his putt and watched Woods tie him and force him into a 91st sudden death hole.

After an errant tee shot by Mediate on the 91st hole, the challenge was over and Woods took his 14th Major Championship, second only to Jack Nicolas. But, Woods was so drained and battered by the competition; he indicated that he might even have to miss his own tournament in Washington in a few weeks. The challenge of besting this journeyman pit bull, Mediate had been his toughest major win ever. Mediate shrugged and said that no one expected him to win, all he did was go out and hit the ball.

His world ranking might have come up a few spots. Woods will certainly look over his shoulder the next time Mediate has a good day on the course and remember how tough the challenge ahead might be should Mediate get into the lead.