After winning the US Open following a play-off victory against Rocco Mediate, an exhausted Tiger Woods said: "I'm glad I'm done."
World number one hopes to make Birkdale
After winning the US Open following a sudden death play-off victory against Rocco Mediate, an exhausted Tiger Woods simply said: "I'm glad I'm done."
Playing his first tournament since returning from knee surgery, Woods at times appeared laboured as he navigated his way through 72 long holes at Torrey Pines.
Four days became five when his birdie putt at the last on Sunday forced an 18-hole play-off against his good friend Mediate.
After he saw a three-stroke lead turn into a one-stroke deficit over the back nine, Woods managed to outscore the world number 157 at the last to turn 18 holes into 19.
Victory, and a 14th major success, finally came at the par-four seventh hole, with a shattered Woods saying: "It was unbelievable, the whole week.
"The golf course was set up so fair but so difficult, everybody who has come out this week has been fantastic, the fans have made the tournament.
"Today was unreal, it kept ebbing and flowing, Rocc looked like he was in control, then I did, it was back and forth, back and forth and 18 holes wasn't enough.
"Three shots on this golf course isn't much. I was slapping it around and I just wanted to get the ball on the green, Rocc made three birdies in a row and that run was impressive."
Problems
Asked about the problems he had had throughout the tournament with his knee, Woods added: "I'm glad I'm done, I really don't feel like playing any more.
"The atmosphere kept me going, it could have been very easy to quit, but I couldn't quit in front of these people, it wasn't going to happen."
Asked when he would play again, he replied: "Not for a while, I'm going to shut it down for a little bit and see what happens."
Nevertheless, Woods added that he hoped to be back in action at Royal Birkdale in Southport for the Open Championship, starting on July 17th.
"I'll take a little time off," he said, before being asked if the Open would be his next tournament.
"I hope so," he replied.
Tiger "unreal"
Mediate admitted his best had not quite been good enough.
He said: "Tiger is so hard to beat, he's unreal. I would have loved to have won, it was a great day.
"The crowd was unbelievable, the putt I made at 18 just to stay in it - I handled it, I was nervous as a cat but I handled it.
"I can't really complain, I did the best I could. It just showed me that I can still compete. I got what I wanted, a chance to beat the best player in the world and I came up just short."
