June 17, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 12, 1429

SAN DIEGO (California), June 16: Tiger Woods, who has nursed a painful knee all week, rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the last on Sunday to join fellow American Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole playoff for the 108th US Open.

Heavy favourite to win his 14th major title after going into the final round a stroke in front of the chasing pack, Woods looked skywards and pumped his fists after the putt dropped.

Mediate, who won the last of his four PGA Tour titles in 2002, had led by a shot with one hole to play.

The pair finished the 72 regulation holes at one-under-par 283 on a difficult afternoon of scoring on the South Course at Torrey Pines in the final round.

Twice champion Woods, who has never lost a major when holding at least a share of the lead after 54 holes, closed with a two-over 73 after Mediate had signed off with a 71.

The pair was slated to return on Monday for the playoff, starting at 0900 local (1600 GMT).

Completed final-round scores:

283 – Rocco Mediate (US) 69, 71, 72, 71; Tiger Woods (US) 72, 68, 70, 73 (title to be decided in an 18-hole playoff).

284 – Lee Westwood (Britain) 70, 71, 70, 73.

286 – Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 70, 70, 75, 71; D.J. Trahan (US) 72, 69, 73, 72.

287 – Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 71, 71, 77, 68; John Merrick (US) 73, 72, 71, 71; Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 75, 66, 74, 72.

288 – Heath Slocum (US) 75, 74, 74, 65; Eric Axley (US) 69, 79, 71, 69; Brandt Snedeker (US) 76, 73, 68, 71; Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 73, 71, 71, 73; Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 69, 73, 72, 74.

289 – Stewart Cink (US) 72, 73, 77, 67; Retief Goosen (South Africa) 76, 69, 77, 67; Rod Pampling (Australia) 74, 70, 75, 70; Ernie Els (South Africa) 70, 72, 74, 73.

290 – Phil Mickelson (US) 71, 75, 76, 68; Chad Campbell (US) 77, 72, 71, 70; Ryuji Imada (Japan) 74, 75, 70, 71; Brandt Jobe (US) 73, 75, 69, 73; Mike Weir (Canada) 73, 74, 69, 74; Sergio Garcia (Spain) 76, 70, 70, 74; Robert Allenby (Australia) 70, 72, 73, 75; Hunter Mahan (US) 72, 74, 69, 75.

291 – Adam Scott (Australia) 73, 73, 75, 70; Anthony Kim (US) 74, 75, 70, 72; Boo Weekley (US) 73, 76, 70, 72.

292 – Bart Bryant (US) 75, 70, 78, 69; Michael Thompson (US) 74, 73, 73, 72; Steve Stricker (US) 73, 76, 71, 72; Patrick Sheehan (US) 71, 74, 74, 73; Jeff Quinney (US) 79, 70, 70, 73; Scott Verplank (US) 72, 72, 74, 74; Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 74, 73, 71, 74.

293 – Pat Perez (US) 75, 73, 75, 70; Daniel Chopra (Sweden) 73, 75, 75, 70; Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 78, 67, 77, 71; Jonathan Mills (Canada) 72, 75, 75, 71; Justin Leonard (US) 75, 72, 75, 71; Andres Romero (Argentina) 71, 73, 77, 72; Todd Hamilton (US) 74, 74, 73, 73; Joe Ogilvie (US) 71, 76, 73, 73; Robert Dinwiddie (Britain) 73, 71, 75, 74; Stuart Appleby (Australia) 69, 70, 79, 75; Jim Furyk (US) 74, 71, 73, 75; Oliver Wilson (Britain) 72, 71, 74, 76.

294 – Jarrod Lyle (Australia) 75, 74, 74, 71; John Rollins (US) 75, 68, 79, 72; Matt Kuchar (US) 73, 73, 76, 72; Dustin Johnson (US) 74, 72, 75, 73; Tim Clark (South Africa) 73, 72, 74, 75.

295 – Ben Crane (US) 75, 72, 77, 71; Soren Hansen (Denmark) 78, 80, 76, 71; Kevin Streelman (US) 68, 77, 78, 72; Martin Kaymer (Germany) 75, 70, 73, 77; Davis Love III (US) 72, 69, 76, 78.—Reuters