Tiger Woods Wins 2008 U.S. Open in Sudden Death Playoff

Tiger Woods parred the first hole of sudden-death Monday, finally subduing unlikely challenger Rocco Mediate to win the 108th US Open golf championship.

Woods, who captured his third US Open crown and the 14th major title of his career, parred the first hole of sudden death - the par-four seventh - after he and Mediate both completed the scheduled 18 playoff holes at even-par 71.

Mediate, ranked 157th in the world, led the game's undisputed superstar by one stroke going into the 18th hole at Torrey Pines, but Woods wasn't finished.

The world No. 1 reached the green of the par-five finishing hole in two, and while his eagle attempt from some 45 feet never threatened to drop, he made a four-footer for birdie to pull even and extend the playoff.

Mediate had pulled level with Woods at one-over for the day with a birdie at 14, and took a one-stroke lead at the 15th, where he curled in a 25-foot birdie putt to get to even-par.

Woods was right off the tee in a bunker, but made a superb shot that rolled to a stop 12 feet from the pin at 15. After Mediate made his birdie to get back to even-par for the day, Woods missed his, remaining one-over and falling one stroke back.

At 16, Woods's 50-foot birdie attempt was headed for the center of the cup but stopped one roll short of falling. Mediate also parred the par-three to take a one-shot lead into the final two holes.