Many thanks to all those who have reminded me that on Sunday, June 9, I wrote that the odds are better of Tiger Woods missing the cut than winning the U.S. Open. Obviously, only an idiot would make such a statement about the greatest player in the history of the game.

In the idiot’s defense, it should also be pointed out that the opening words to that column were as follows: “If Tiger Woods wins the upcoming U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego, it will hands down be his greatest single achievement as a professional.”

Perhaps you heard or read that shortly after his gripping playoff victory over Rocco Mediate Monday, Tiger labeled the 108th U.S. Open as his greatest victory.

After watching him pull off what I still consider a totally improbable victory, because of a knee problem that’s worse that most realize, I’m going to climb back out on the limb.

He’ll never top this one.

Never and Tiger Woods should probably never be placed in the same sentence, but what we witnessed over a five-day period at Torrey Pines arguably stands alone among all-time championship performances in all sports. The argument, I think, will be strenthened when more information on his knee is disclosed.

Don’t be shocked if Tiger shuts it down after the PGA, and perhaps earlier, for a more serious procedure on the knee that sidelines him several months.

In the meantime, everybody should relish having the opportunity to watch this guy perform. He’s the best of the best in any sport, in an era, and his ability to deliver memorable moments in the clutch is pretty much otherwordly.

Also, drink a toast to unheradled Rocco Mediate for a performance that rivaled Tiger’s for being gutsy. He’ll go down as one of the few golfers who wasn’t intimdated in Tiger’s presence.

CHIP SHOTS: For Bruce Vaughn of Beaumont, a long wait is over. Vaughn, who had been playing golf 48 years without making a hole in one, finally got his ace last Saturday at Bayou Din. Vaughn used a 6-iron to sink his tee shot on the 147-yard, 11th hole. The shot was wintessed by Mack Pollard and Emanuel Preston . . . Tyler Thomas of Beaumont delivered a Tiger Woods type showing in a recent STPGA Junior Tournanent at Walden on Lake Conroe. Thomas shot a 3-under 69 over a difficult layout to win boys 14-15 by a whopping 15 strokes. A week earlier the Kelly High School sophomore finished 8th in a field of 90 players in the Starburst Junior Tournament in Waco with a 54-hole score of 232 . . . Mike Hebert shot a net 66 to win the Monday Seniors at Belle Oaks. Ben Fuller was second with a 67, followed by Jim Brown at 68. Barry Jackson won closest to the pin on both No. 8 and No. 15 . . . Rufus Mier shot a net 64 to win the Friday Seniors at Belle Oaks, edging Norm Shannon and Bill Taylor by a stroke. Closest to the pin winers were Mike Hebert (No. 8) and Mier (No. 15) . . . The Seniors at The Babe was played in a team points format. The team of Red Brown, Paul Duplantis, John Culbertson and John Hackbarth won with plus 12. Placing second at plus 11 was the team of Bob Barnes, Cecil Bourgeois, Sheldon Arnuad and Charlie Macha. Closest to the pin winners were Art Spencer (No. 7) and Tommy Trahan (No. 15). Don Rowland was the long drive winner for A/B players, with Gary Wagner winning for C/D players . . . The weekly game at The Patch was played in a 2 ball format. Winning at minus six was the team of Jimmy Fetters, Ron Theriot, Paul Duplantis and Richard Landry. Second at minus five was the team of Gerald Huebel, Adam Noel, Charles Scott, Clifford Mougia and Paul Brown . . . There was a five-way tie for first in the Babe Zaharias DogFight. The team of Troy Touchet, Butch Landry, Jack Anderson and Harrell Guidry finished 16&8. Larry Padia, Roy Russell, Cecil Bourgeois and Tom Terrell signed off on 16&6. At 16&5 was the team of Buddy Sepeda, Carl Guidry, Carl Hudman and Harold Wilkinson. Coming in at 16&4 was the foursome of Rick Pritchett, Larry Vight, Jim Cooper and Bobby Hebert. Finishing at 16&2 was the team of Bill Hatfield, Dave English, Lonnie Guidry and Ben Thornton. Closest to the hole winners were Tim Abshire Sr., (No. 2), Kenny Robins (No. 7), Ron Block (No. 12) and Cole Lee (No. 15) . . . The Bayou Din DogFight was won by the team of Tim Turner, Bill Hickman, Gary Wagner and Woody Thompson. They finished 21&7 . . . In the Belle Oaks DogFight, the team of Troy Touchet, Gene Harrison and Charlie Huckaby won with 17&3. Second at 16&1 was the threesome of Hilario Padia, Larry Johnson and Sam Loycano. Third place at 10&1 went to the trio of Bill Hatfield, Billy Pennington, and Larry Padia. Closest to the pin winners were Billy Pennington (No. 3) and Hilario Padia (No. 15) . . . Playing in a best ball format, Mimi Rose of Groves and Becky Eismon of Beaumont won first place low gross with a 152 in the Brazos Ladies Roundup at Columbia Lakes. Iris Marquardt of Beuamont and Cindy Wilkinson of Pinewood won low net with a 129. Wilkinson also won closest to the pin on NO. 12 . . . The team of Larry Padia, Jason Padia, John Padia and Raymond Padia won the Freemdon Church Scramble at Belle Oaks. Finishing second was the foursome of Stephen Gault, Michael Gault, Keith Staudt and Kelly Smith.

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