If Rocco Mediate, who is trying to become the oldest player to win the US Open, was feeling the pressure in Sunday's round, he certainly wasn't showing it.

The 45-year-old was smiling during each stroll up the fairway and even played to the crowd as he duelled Tiger Woods down the stretch, setting the stage for their 18-hole playoff in the 7.5 million-dollar tournament on Monday.

"It is going to be a blast," Mediate said. "I am playing against a monster tomorrow morning. This week has been a total dream."

Woods rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on his final hole to shoot two-over 73 and force the showdown with Mediate who fired a 71 for a one-under 283 total at the Torrey Pines South course.

"I knew he would make that putt. That is what he does," said Mediate who played in the pairing ahead of Woods and watched the drama at 18 unfold from the scorer's booth.

Should the underdog Mediate upset the world number one on Monday he would become the oldest player to win a US Open.

"Sometimes you've got to be careful what you wish for, I guess," said Mediate, who said Saturday he wanted to play with Woods in the final pairing. "It is going to be unbelievable. I can't believe I'm even in this situation at all. It is great."

Mediate will be shooting for a record 1.35 million dollar first prize Monday. Asked if he was living a dream, Mediate said, "Come on. I missed eight of the first 10 cuts I played this year on the Tour. Come on. Come on. Seriously.

"So I get to come back next year, I get to go back to Augusta next year. I get to do all kinds of things."

Playing in a pairing with Geoff Ogilvy, Mediate started the day two shots behind leader Woods.

He rolled in three birdies, made three bogeys and 12 pars at the 7,643 yard Torrey Pines -- the longest course in US Open history.

For much of his career, Mediate has struggled with back problems, and he missed most of the 1994 season with a ruptured disc. But in 2007, Mediate had his best season since 1993, earning 1.1 million dollars.

Although he has missed eight cuts this year, Mediate found some form recently, finishing in a tie for sixth in the Memorial.

Mediate has five wins on the PGA Tour, but no one has ever accused him of being one of the best players without a major title.

His best finish in a major was fourth, in the 2001 Open at Southern Hills in Tulsa, and he tied for sixth in the Open at Pinehurst in 2005.

Mediate will tee off Monday with a good luck charm around his waist. He plans on wearing a flash belt buckle to help him get psyched up.

"I might put something like a Metallica or AC/DC to get all nasty and mean," he said.

AFP