The NBC announcers got a little excited during the playoff broadcast on Monday, several times exclaiming that we were watching one of the best golf tournaments ever played. Hey, they're fans, too, and they get caught up in the moment just like the rest of us.

And that's why I wasn't willing to write anything yesterday about the 2008 U.S. Open's place in history. I was caught up in the moment. Better to let a day go by and consider things more clearly.

And so I've been thinking about whether this tournament really was one of the greatest - perhaps the greatest - U.S. Open ever. My short answer is: I don't know. But probably.

The reason I say "I don't know" first is this: How are we supposed to compare this tournament to, say, any of Bobby Jones' Open wins? There's no way. Most golf fans know nothing about Jones' wins, except that he did win. Almost nobody who saw Jones' wins is still alive to testify. There are very few newsreel clips.

What about the 1931 Open? Billy Burke and George Von Elm played 144 holes before a winner was decided. Tied after 72, they played a 36-hole playoff. Still tied, they played another 36. And even after all that, the winning margin was one stroke.

How on earth are we who are here today supposed to compare that to what happened on Monday? It can't be done.

Francis Ouimet's upset win in 1913, Jack Fleck beating Ben Hogan in 1955, Nicklaus vs. Palmer in '62 and Trevino vs. Nicklaus in '71. These are entries in the history books for most of us.

The reason I say "probably" is that the 2008 U.S. Open had everything a storybook tournament should have. David vs. Goliath. Or David vs. Willis Reed (an injured Tiger Woods), which might be an even better story. The all-time greatest player making miraculous putts when he had to. The laughing, popular underdog refusing to go away. Huge cheers on the back nine. A course that seemed perfect for what was unfolding, in fact contributed mightily to that unfolding.

I can't compare, with any confidence, compare this U.S. Open to the 1913 or 1931 Opens, to the 1955 or 1962 or 1971 Opens. But I can look back the Opens I clearly remember. And none of those compare.

The 2006 Open was pretty memorable, but for the wrong reasons. Meltdowns rather than heroics. The 2000 U.S. Open was pretty memorable, but a 15-stroke victory qualifies as one of the greatest individual performances, not one of the greatest tournaments.

The 1999 U.S. Open - Payne Stewart sinking the winning putt on the 72nd hole to beat Phil Mickelson - has become somewhat iconic. But in large part because of the tragedy that befell Stewart shortly afterward. Had Stewart not died young, it's doubtful there'd be a statue of him at Pinehurst now, it's doubtful that every time the U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst we'd see clips of that birdie putt on a constant loop and paeans to the greatness of that Open.

So looking back over the past 20 or so U.S. Opens, I can say that I believe the 2008 one is easily the greatest of those. And that's good enough for me.

Here's a clip from a Rich Lerner interview with Tiger Woods (hat tip: Golf Clips) following up on some things Woods touched on in his post-U.S. Open press room interview. Namely, that he played against doctors' orders. The possibility that "the season might be lost" is broached. And Lerner genuflects and kisses Tiger's ring. (Not literally, but figuratively.)

My first check of the action today, and I caught Tiger and Rocco just finishing the seventh, where Woods birdied. Tiger -1, Rocco +1 after 7.

Use this thread to chat about the playoff.

And you might be interested in this list of U.S. Open playoffs. Has all the scores, plus a few interesting tidbits.

Update I: Rocco just missed a short par putt, about 3 feet probably, on No. 9. Ouch. They head to the back nine with Tiger leading by two.

Update II: Hope I'm wrong, but it the playoff may be over after the 10th. Tiger rolled in a long par putt from the fringe, Rocco missed a much shorter par putt. Woods now ahead by three.

Update III: Hmmm, looks like I spoke too soon in Update II. Tiger has bogied the last two holes, Rocco now within one again. Tiger +2, Rocco +3. Did anyone else notice Johnny Miller calling the Buick Invitational the "San Diego Open"? If you're gonna live in the '70s, Johnny, bust out some of those white belts and bell bottoms! You'll fit right in with Villegas, Poulter, et.al.

Update IV: And they're tied with four to play. Rocco had a tap-in birdie on the short par-4 14th; Tiger had a 10-footer for birdie that lipped out. They're both at +1 now. Rocco had done an amazing job today. Two different times he's fallen three shots behind but kept himself in it.

Update V: Rocco goes one stroke ahead with a birdie at 15.

Update VI: Rocco takes a 1-stroke lead to the 18th tee ...

Update VII: We're going to the 91st hole. Tiger birdied No. 18, Rocco parred. Now it's sudden death.

Tiger wins. Par on the first extra hole (the 19th hole), while Rocco bogied.

It's amazing what faster greens and thicker rough can do to the best golfers in the world. Earlier this year at the Buick Invitational, Tiger Woods shot 269 at Torrey Pines. This week in the U.S. Open, he shot 283. Adjust the course setup (and throw in a bum knee), add 14 strokes the score of the best player of all-time.

Back several years ago, when the USGA announced that Torrey Pines would be hosting a U.S. Open, not everyone was pleased. Torrey Pines? Over at the superb golf architecture site GolfClubAtlas.com, a discussion thread was started with the title, "Is Torrey Pines the worst U.S. Open course ever?" The consensus was "yes."

Mind you, nobody was suggesting that Torrey Pines is not a good course, just that it isn't a great course. Or perhaps more to the point, that it isn't among the greatest courses.

And it's not. It's a fairly straightforward golf course. Take the holes out of their setting along the Pacific Coast and this collection of holes might even seem a little ... bland. Torrey is definitely no Oakmont, no Shinnecock, no Pebble Beach or Winged Foot. It's not even Chambers Bay.

It's never ranked in any of those Top 100 courses in America lists; it doesn't even make the Top 30 in California list.

But that's from an architectural point of view. What about as a venue? As a place to play a golf tournament? Clearly, Torrey Pines - with a tougher course setup - has stood up to the best players. Only two of them managed to finish under par.

But while Torrey was punishing this week, it wasn't brutal the way Winged Foot was in 2006 or the way Oakmont was in 2007.

U.S. Open courses often produce more moans from the crowds than cheers. Fans groan as yet another par putt slides by the hole, rather than cheer as someone makes a birdie. Bogeys, not birdies, change the leaderboard in many U.S. Opens.

I've never minded the USGA's brutal course setups for its Open; I don't care if the winning score is below or above par. My only complaint with U.S. Open setups in the past has been the lack of birdie holes down the stretch, the lack of risk-reward holes. Oh, there's always risk - but very rarely reward.

Torrey Pines in the 2008 U.S. Open managed to provide the golfers with birdie - even eagle - opportunities in the last six holes without appearing the least bit easy, without appearing to compromise in the least the USGA's unstated but understood goal to have the winning score somewhere close to par.

Torrey Pines provided those loud cheers, those signature moments that have been missing from some recent U.S. Opens.

So while Torrey might not be among the greatest courses in the country - from an architectural standpoint, might even, arguably, be the worst course in U.S. Open history - as a place to play the U.S. Open, it turned out to be the perfect choice.

I hope the USGA returns very soon.

Just a quick programming note: The 18-hole playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate for the U.S. Open title will be televised by ESPN beginning at noon (ET), then by NBC from 2 p.m. (ET) until conclusion.

You can also watch on USOpen.com.

It's time for another 18-hole playoff at the U.S. Open. Tiger Woods vs. Rocco Mediate.

Mediate parred the 18th, playing one hole ahead of Woods and Lee Westwood, and get in the clubhouse at 1-under. Woods and Westwood teed off No. 18 at even-par. Both found bunkers. Both layed up. Both had birdie putts to tie Mediate.

Westwood missed. Woods made. And on to Monday we go.

And they're off.

Use this thread to comment throughout the final round ...

Update: The last group is through 10. Three-way tie for the lead at 1-under: Westwood, Woods, Mediate. Ogilvy made a bit of charge, but wasted it with two shaky holes after. He's a +2. Els has been striking it great all day but not making any putts. He's at +2.

Update II: And Tiger takes the lead with a birdie at 11.

Update III: Els is done with a triple at 15. He was in thick rough for his second shot, advanced the ball just a few yards. Third stroke, got it out of the rough but hit a tree not too far ahead, ball dropped down right next to the tree trunk. Triple. Hey, I've done that!

Update IV: Rocco takes the lead. Mediate birdied the 267-yard par-4 14th while Tiger was bogeying the par-5 13th after a terrible hook into a terrible spot. So Rocco 2-under, Tiger 1-under.

Update V: Rocco one shot ahead through 16, the only golfer under par at 1-under. Woods and Westwood at even par after Tiger bogied 15.

Well, Tiger's in the lead. Anyone surprised?

Tiger Woods shot a stirring 70 at Torrey Pines on Saturday and leads the U.S. Open by one stroke. He should be a shoo-in tomorrow, right? Welllllll ... Woods will probably win. But ...

He was clearly in a lot of pain on Saturday with his left knee, especially on some drives. And the knee has appeared to bother him more each day. And it did affect his game - he sprayed a lot of drives late in the game. If the knee worsens tomorrow - maybe even stiffens up overnight - who knows? But it's not like he's going to withdraw (although it wouldn't be surprising to see him withdraw from the Buick Open, scheduled in two weeks). No matter what the knee feels like on Sunday, Woods will be out there fighting for the championship.

And when Woods is in this position in a golf tournament, he usually gets that championship.

The Leaders
Tiger Woods, 72-68-70--210
Lee Westwood, 70-71-70--211
Rocco Mediate, 69-71-72--212
Geoff Ogilvy, 69-73-72--214
D.J. Trahan, 72-69-73--214
Hunter Mahan, 72-74-69--215
Camilo Villegas, 73-71-71--215
Robert Allenby, 70-72-73--215
Miguel Angel Jimenez, 75-66-74--215
Robert Karlsson, 70-70-75--215
Mike Weir, 73-74-69--216
Sergio Garcia, 76-70-70--216
John Merrick, 73-72-71--216
Ernie Els, 70-72-74--216
Full leaderboard

There are some very good names on that leaderboard, but the players closest to Tiger - Westwood and Mediate - are not ones he'll be much concerned with. Ogilvy frittered away a couple strokes late, but he's a player who can charge tomorrow. Karlsson, Weir, Garcia, Els - any one of them might pop up with a 67 tomorrow. Probably won't, but each is capable of doing so.

As for Tiger's third round - or more specifically his final six holes - wow. A loooooooong eagle putt on No. 13, then a chip-in birdie out of thick greenside rough on No. 17, then another very difficult eagle on No. 18. And all of that while fighting the knee problem and the shaky drives that were resulting. Good stuff. As rounds of 70 go, this has got to be one of the most memorable.

Isn't weird for it to be this late in the day - 2:30 Central time as I write this - and still have half the field yet to tee off?

Phil MIckelson is among those who are under way. He's through the front nine at this time and 1-over for the day. I'm declaring Phil's title hopes dead.

Use this thread to discuss play throughout the day.

Update: Phil reached No. 13 at 5-over. A par-5, he had a short third to the uphill green with a false front that slopes severely back down to the fairway. His wedge hit the front of the green, rolled back down ... probably about 40 yards. Hit another wedge, short, rolled back down. Hit another wedge, short, rolled back down. Finally, on his fourth try, he flew the ball past the flag and held the green.

Update II: Tiger opens with a double-bogey. Same score he made to open the tournament on Thursday.

Update III: Ernie just did the same thing Phil did earlier in the day on No. 13 - didn't get his approach far enough up the false front, and the ball rolled back down the hill. Then Els did it a second time. But at least he got his third onto the green. Then made the putt. A 9 for Mickelson, but at least Ernie saved a bogey. He's a +4. If he just holds steady there, he might still have a chance on Sunday.

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

A little William Blake for you, to class up the joint.

Speaking of classing up the joint: Tiger Woods. Got off to a rough start today, then went nuts on the back nine. Dropped a sweet little 30 on the field, wound up with a 68, wound up in second place.

Phil Mickelson: Not so much. Phil is tinkering with his set makeup again. As he did at Colonial, he's driverless at Torrey Pines, and carrying five wedges. Teeing off with 3-wood. Torrey Pines is approximately 2,000 yards longer than Colonial, which makes this a curious decision. But if Mickelson hits every fairway, then maybe it pays off.

But even with 3-wood, he's not hitting fairways. It'll be interesting to see if he sticks with it, or puts the driver back in the bag tomorrow. If he's missing fairways anyway, might as well get the ball at little farther down the hole. After today's 75 that left him at 4-over, he'll probably need a 68 tomorrow to get back near the top.

The Leaders after Round 2
Stuart Appleby, 69-70--139
Robert Karlsson, 70-70--140
Rocco Mediate, 69-71--140
Tiger Woods, 72-68--140
Miguel Angel Jimenez, 75-66--141
Davis Love III, 72-69--141
D.J. Trahan, 72-69--141
Lee Westwood, 70-71--141
Robert Allenby, 70-72--142
Luke Donald, 71-71--142
Ernie Els, 70-72--142
Geoff Ogilvy, 69-73--142
Carl Pettersson, 71-71--142
Full scores

Miguel Angel Jimenez had the round of the tournament so far with a 66. There have been quite a few U.S. Opens in the past where I've chosen Jimenez as my dark-horse pick. And he's often teased me but never pleased me. Sorry, Mikey, I ain't falling for it this time.