Rocco Mediate insisted he has "never had more fun" despite losing his US Open play-off to Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines.
Mediate looks at positives despite play-off defeat
Rocco Mediate insisted he has "never had more fun" despite losing his US Open play-off to Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines.
The 45-year-old finally came unstuck at the first extra hole after taking the 18-hole play-off into sudden death.
And Mediate remained positive despite missing out on lifting the first major of his career.
"I'm sure that I scared him," Mediate said. "I did good today.
"I've never had more fun, it's just amazing. He's hard to beat.
"I threw everything I had, the kitchen sink, everything right at him. I was three down through 10 and it could have been over pretty quick.
"All of a sudden 'bang, bang, bang', I pick up three, four shots and in a few holes and I'm one up."
Mediate's bid for the title came unstuck at the first extra hole - the seventh - with the American finding a fairway bunker.
"I had trouble with that seventh hole tee shot all week and I hooked it again in that bunker and caught it in a horrible place," he added.
Mediate is now hoping that his first appearance in a major play-off will be the start of something special for him - especially as he was able to hold his own against Woods.
He added: "I gave him the best that I had and it wasn't quite good enough, but it almost was.
"It wasn't like I got my butt handed to me today. And I know that I still can do this stuff and I want to try that again sometime, somewhere.
"I'm disappointed a little that I didn't beat him but just disappointed, not upset."
