Virginia Golfer May / Jun 2018 | Page 18

Tiger Woods’ last major championship came in dramatic fashion in an 18-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate at the 2008 U. S.
Open at Torrey Pines.

Ten years ago, Tiger Woods defeated Rocco Mediate to win the U. S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines in California. This is noteworthy for two reasons. For one, it was Woods’ last major championship. Secondly, it will go down in history as the last U. S. Open decided by an 18-hole playoff. Starting this year, all U. S. Open championships will be decided by a twohole aggregate playoff. Should competitors still be tied after that, the playoff will continue with sudden-death holes until a champion emerges.

The USGA’ s main reasoning behind the move was to ensure if at all possible that the championship is decided within the Sunday broadcast window. The USGA has used a three-hole format in the U. S. Women’ s Open and U. S. Senior Open in recent years.
“ Two holes will allow a player to recover from any single mistake, and at the same time, provide a memorable, and perhaps dramatic, experience for all involved,” USGA CEO / executive director Mike Davis said.
Here’ s a closer look at the four U. S. Open championships, which will run from May 31-July 15.
Fun facts: Only two players finished under par in 2004 at Shinnecock, champion Retief Goosen(-4) and runner-up Phil Mickelson(-2). No one finished under par in 1995 at Shinnecock, when Corey Pavin won with an even-par score. … The winning score at Shinnecock in 1986 was Raymond Floyd’ s 1-under finish. Virginia ties: For the second straight year, the USGA conducted a U. S. Open local qualifier at VSGA member Farmington Country Club. … Virginia Golf Hall of Famer Curtis Strange is a two-time U. S. Open champion. Another Virginia Golf Hall of Famer, Lanny Wadkins, was a runner-up in 1986. Next year: The Open heads west to Pebble Beach Golf Links in California from June 13-16.
118TH U. S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
JUNE 14-17 SHINNECOCK HILLS Southampton, N. Y. Defending Champion Brooks Koepka Storylines: Ten years ago, Tiger Woods won his last major in what proved to be the final 18-hole U. S. Open playoff, topping
Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines. After some promising results early this season, Tigermania is back in full swing. He finished tied for 32nd at the Masters. In his only previous U. S. Open appearance at Shinnecock Hills in 2004, he shot 10 over and tied for 17th. … Will the defending champ play? Koepka missed the Masters with a partially torn tendon in his wrist. As of mid-April, his only 2018 appearance was in the season-opening Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
73RD U. S. WOMEN’ S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
MAY 31-JUNE 3 SHOAL CREEK Shoal Creek, Ala. Defending champion Sung Hyun Park Storylines: Looking for a back-to-back champion here? Think again. Karrie Webb
SCOTT CLARKE / ESPN IMAGES
16 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M AY / J UNE 2018 vsga. org