Rocco(not Rocky), the Underdog, Faces Eye of the Tiger
In September of 2006, while sitting in my parents’ living room – first year of college – doing Advanced Calculus homework, I stumbled upon the US Amateur golf championship and a fellow named Tiger Woods. I had heard of this golf prodigy. He’d been featured in Sports Illustrated and several other national publications as he dominated the college and amateur ranks. I wasn’t a golf fan - had only played once in my life, a couple months before - but I decided to check out this Eldrick Woods character I’d read so much about.
I don’t remember much about the golf specifics, other than that he was down two shots with three holes to go. He came back to win in dramatic fashion, of course, and just like that I became a golf fan, forever thankful to Tiger’s greatness. The excitement he created was infectious even through the tube.
Everyone knows what he’s done since. He’s arguably the greatest golfer ever, and when he’s done, there probably won’t be any more argument. And even though I expect him to win every time out, expect each incredibly clutch putt to fall, it’s no less exciting than it was 12 years ago. I was jumping up and down and going crazy when he nailed that putt on 18 to force the playoff in the US Open Championship.
Rocco Mediate is a great guy. I saw him at The Memorial and ran into him at the Open qualifier at Scarlet. But there will always be great stories like Rocco’s. The underdog long shot trying to break through and win his first major. But a Tiger Woods only comes once in a lifetime, so I say let’s enjoy him for all we can as long as we can. So I’ll be pulling for Tiger to win his 14th major and move closer to Jack’s record.
