US Open play-off goes to sudden death

For the second day running Tiger Woods birdied the last hole to stay alive in the US Open today.

Woods and fellow American Rocco Mediate went into sudden death after they had both gone round Torrey Pines in level-par 71s.

From three down with eight holes remaining Mediate, 158th in the world and a qualifier for the event, stormed back to lead by one on the 18th tee.

That was the same position he was in a day earlier, but once again he could not birdie the par five and Woods did, this time by finding the green with a three-iron and two-putting from five feet.

Mediate was trying to become the championship’s oldest winner at 45 years five months, but Woods was going for his 14th major – and his fifth straight win on the San Diego course.

He had more problems with the left knee operated on in April – this was his first tournament since the Masters – but when he needed it most his game was there.