The 2008 U.S. Open golf championship will be remembered for Tiger Woods winning his 14th major while playing through knee pain. Despite making four double bogeys, Tiger made three amazing eagles, and a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole on Sunday to force an 18-hole playoff Monday with Rocco Mediate.

What I will remember about this riveting tournament is Rocco. The 158th-ranked player in the world, Rocco had to go through qualifying just to play in this year's Open. Despite being one of golf's shortest hitters -- his drives were routinely 30 yards or more behind Tiger's -- Rocco outplayed Tiger on Sunday, coming from behind to tie him to force the playoff.

Then going head-to-head with Tiger on Monday, Rocco overcame a three-shot deficit after 10 holes to actually take a one-stroke lead after 15 holes. He led by one going to the 18th hole, where Tiger made a clutch birdie putt to extend the match another hole, where Tiger's par would good enough to win.

Rocco proved to give Tiger all he could handle, to the surprise of the golf "experts" who predicted a big Tiger win in the 18-hole playoff on Monday, What really impressed me about Rocco, though, was how much fun he was having. His ever-present smile, his playful gestures during the action and his post-round comments all gave you the sense he was truly enjoying himself, which was great to see.

The fact that he did this in such a pressure-packed situation of a major championship, one which Rocco, who is 45, may never be in again, was all the more refreshing. It's no wonder Rocco was such a crowd favorite. In fact, the Let's Go Rocco cheer was the first time I've ever heard a golf gallery do that, and it was a deserving tribute to a player who remembers that golf is, after all, a game.