Hobbled Woods reaches yet another level

SAN DIEGO -- Hank Haney got a shade choked up, his eyes misting over as he watched his prized pupil hoist the U.S. Open trophy overhead for the third time.

Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods share a laugh after the shooting stops. (AP)

As Tiger Woods kissed the chrome, Haney had no trouble putting the guy's latest other-worldly accomplishment into perspective. He did not equivocate, qualify or pull his punches, and even though he's on the Woods payroll, his opinion means plenty because Haney knew more than anybody about what Woods was enduring this week.

After 91 grueling, grinding holes had been completed, Haney finally pulled back the curtain regarding what Woods faced over the past two months since having surgery on his chewed-up left knee for the third time.

"It's his greatest win, given all of the things he had to overcome," Haney said, repeatedly clearing his throat. "The amount of pain he played in, the lack of preparation, it's his greatest win and I know he feels the same way."

Good call, coach.

After the world No. 1 hobbled another 19 holes to defeat scrappy Rocco Mediate on Monday, he said the victory ranked numero uno among his 14 major championships. The U.S. Open is famous for inflicting pain and suffering, but Woods needed no extra help in that regard.

"I think this is probably my best, all things considered," Woods said, cradling the Open trophy for the first time since 2002. "I don't know how I ended up in this position."

It was not his prettiest, most precise or meaningful win. But for sheer tenacity, grit and perseverance, nothing else is in the discussion.

He channeled the Spanish magician Seve Ballsteros at times, making four double-bogeys and three-putting four times, but made up for it with three eagles and more salvage shots than any Open winner in years. He might have forever destroyed the notion that winners on the National Open have to hit fairways and greens, because Woods was making up shots and swings as he went along, hoping his knee would hold up.

"It's gone a little downhill every day," Haney said.

Many thought the time he played the final 18 holes at Bay Hill in 2003, weakened and sick with the stomach flu after visiting a hospital emergency room for a dose of intravenous fluids, was impressive, because he actually pulled away to win by 11 shots. But this week at Torrey Pines was like walking 91 holes over five days with a rock in your shoe, or a red-hot poker jabbing you in the knee.

Woods has mostly deflected questions about the long-term prognosis of his knee, but finally admitted Monday that his doctors have warned that playing will likely cause more trauma.

"As far as future ramifications, I'm not really good at listening to doctor's orders too well," Woods said, stubborn as ever.