Rocco Mediate struggles to regain his form on the PGA Tour
Rocco Mediate always likes to call himself an underdog. He found himself in a similar position when he participated in the 2008 US Open.
He tied for the top spot with Tiger Woods with a one-under par tournament score and both the players entered the 18-hole playoffs.
Both the players tied once again at the end of the playoffs after each player recorded an even-par score. The competition then was decided on the first extra hole in the sudden-death playoffs, when Woods outshined his rival on the seventh hole at the Torrey
Pines South Course.
Mediate did not win that tournament, but he is surely remembered by many for his outstanding performance in the tournament. The strong finish also moved him from the 158th to the 47th spot in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Prior to the 2008 US Open, the 49-year-old had five PGA Tour victories registered on his resume. However, his strong showing in the major against Woods raised his profile in the golfing world.
A couple of years later, he won the Frys.com Open and ended his eight-year winning drought on the PGA Tour. Since then, he has not tasted success and is struggling to get back in form.
Right from the beginning of the 2012 PGA Tour season, he has not been able to record a single top-10 finish.
Moreover, he only has one top-25 finish recorded to his stats this year, which is a poor showing from a player of his calibre. Until now, he has earned around $250,000 prize money and ranks 177 in the PGA Tour Official Money List.
With only a few tournaments left on the PGA Tour, his chances of retaining his card for the 2013 PGA Tour season are in danger.
According to the PGA Tour policy, the top-125 players in the money list will be able to retain their cards for the following season.
If one fails to make it to the top-125, they will have to appear in the PGA Tour Q-School at the end of the season.
He received a two-year playing exemption on the tour after winning the 2010 Frys.com Open, which will expire this season.
According to the golf experts, the Naples resident definitely has the potential to become a solid contender again.
However, he desperately needs to work on his putting technique, as he is currently struggling badly with his game on the greens.
In addition to that, Mediate also has injury issues for the past few years. He is known for his lingering back problems and tendon issues. According to some golf experts, his injury problem is the major reason behind his putting shortfalls.
Therefore, it is difficult to predict whether he will be able to regain his winning form in the time to come or not.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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