"Really? No [bleep]," Rocco shot back with a sarcastic smile, getting a big laugh from the crowd.
"I think I can do it with a 3-wood," Mediate announced. Achatz agreed. "I like the look."
Spending the next two minutes chewing on a wooden tee and pacing while Ogilvy and caddie Alistair Matheson engaged in a quiet but spirited debate that led to a short-iron lay up for the 2006 U.S. Open champion, Mediate stepped up and drew his 3-wood into the northwest wind, the ball bouncing a few times before kicking into the front left bunker, where he got up and down for birdie.
"It was close," he said to Achatz.
One group later, Woods stepped to the tee having bogeyed the par-5 13th after a "complete double-cross" second shot that might have influenced his reasoning during the 66-second deliberation with Steve Williams (he also might have been remembering the two balls he hit into the canyon left of the green during practice rounds, using a 3-wood). Tiger finally pulled what looked like a 7-iron and laid up, to the disappointment of the crowd.
"You couldn't have picked a worse [yardage] for me," said Woods, who made par. "Because 5-wood is my number to the front, but it's into the wind so I can't get there. [And] 3-wood is too much. I've got to hit it out over the barranca and cut it. And if I over-cut it, I'm in the right bunker and I've got no shot. … I'm caught right between clubs."
Woods claimed that if the tee was back just a few yards he would have played 3-wood and gone for it. He got his wish in the playoff, with the committee moving the markers back five paces. After Mediate struck a perfect 3-wood just short of the green, setting up what would be an easy birdie, Woods paused, pulled his 3-wood, and stopped midway into his pre-shot routine to ask Steve Williams a question: "What do you get for wind?"
He struck a solid 3-wood into the first cut, but just as he had the day prior, Woods made par. Davis was standing just off the tee both days, eyes and ears glued to the best player in the world contemplating the strategic possibilities. He couldn't help but savor the moment.
"Easily the highlight of my week."
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