Tiger overcomes wounded knee with a spectacular day

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-15  |     ONLINE EDITION

WITH unbearable pain and three unforgettable shots, Woods turned in one of his most memorable performances in a major and somehow took a one-shot lead over Lee Westwood at the US Open yesterday.

Right when some 50,000 fans at Torrey Pines thought they had seen it all, Woods knocked in a 30-foot eagle on the 18th hole for a 1-under 70 and his first 54-hole lead in the US Open since he won at Bethpage Black in 2002.

That he made it to the finish line was nearly as impressive as a magical array of shots.

His tender left knee first buckled on the 15th hole, and Woods used his club as a cane to get down the fairway, limping along while trying to stay in the hunt. He played the final six holes in 4 under _ and that included a bogey _ and will play in the final group for the sixth time in the last eight majors.

This time he has the lead, and he has never lost a major from the front.

But he has never won a major with a limp, either.

"Is it getting worse? Yes, it is," said Woods, playing for the first time since surgery April 15 to clean out cartilage in his left knee. "Certain shots, I'll feel it. I can't say it's a drive, can't say it's a wedge. I'm not sure what shot it's going to happen on."

Woods was at 3-under 210, one of only three players still under par.

As spectacular as Woods played, Westwood got it done with steady golf so often required at this major. He holed a short birdie putt on the par-5 13th and finished with six straight pars, missing a 4-foot birdie on the last hole for a 70. The 35-year-old from England has never had this good an opportunity in a major.

"It will be nice going out last tomorrow and having a chance," Westwood said.

Rocco Mediate, trying to become the oldest US Open champion at age 45, looked as though he would leave everyone behind when he made an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 10 to reach 4-under and kept putting his shots in the fairway and on the green.