U.S. OPEN (ALL HOURS)

Watching the Majors on TV is a little like watching TV soap operas – each episode has the same main cast (with a few guest appearances), same plot, same sets. The only difference is that each Major only comes round but once a year, so there is no danger of over-exposure, thus allowing golf widows to be generous in allowing their spouses to monopolise the telly for five or six hours each day. Luckily, unlike the soaps, the Majors never let you down and the Torrey Pines 2008 version of the U.S. open was no exception.

Enter the wounded Tiger, straining at the leash after two months of inaction following an operation on his left knee, ensuring a large helping of drama from the 1st tee to the 72nd green, or in this case the 90th green. And there’s the rub. The whole play ruined by the producers’ decision that a tie shall be decided by an 18 hole play-off after the audience has gone home, having plunged from the heights of unscripted drama to the depths of dismal anti-climax. But that’s what happens when amateurs get into the act. Now the critics have to book an extra night at their hotels and re-arrange flights, while their editors have to re-organize tomorrow’s sports pages. But wait! Rocco Mediate’s guest appearance, far from being a cameo part, has now turned into a starring role. Having exceeded all expectations by holding off Woods for 72 holes, he now saves us from Monday morning blues by once again taking him to the wire in the play-off, only succumbing at the first sudden death hole.

In every respect, this U.S. Open was far and away the best in recent years. The Torrey Pines course and the way it was set up, was perfect – testing but fair. The result was in doubt till the very end – and beyond. The underdogs came through (no American has won for the past four years), although Lee Westwood came close to spoiling the party for them. But what will stand out when the dust has settled, is that we must now accept that Tiger Woods is the best golfer the world has seen. After all, he beat the rest playing on one leg.

THIS WEEK'S THOUGHT
"A well-adjusted man is one who can play golf as if it were a game" (anon).