Tiger: Did you really have any doubts?

Were you like me on Sunday evening while watching Tiger on the final hole at the U.S. Open?

Sitting on the couch, with a belly a little too full from the Father's Day family cookout, still moving at a snail's pace from the night of heavy drinking before, and watching Tiger handle the pressure with ease?

We had to know it was coming. The guy is too good. Even when he'd hit a bad shot, he never appeared rattled. Frustrated? Yes. He did slam his iron a few times. But he corrected his mistakes and put himself in situations where he wasn't struggling to save par.

And then came the par 5, hole 18. Even after that second shot that caused him to slam his iron, did you really think he was going to blow it?

His third shot set him up perfectly for the birdie, which will go down in history (especially if he wins today) as one of the most clutch putts in Tiger's career. If not for the theatrics afterwards. Tiger's primal roar and fist pumping. The crowd's deafening cheers. Tiger and his caddy's embrace and Woods putting his right index finger in the air as if saying, "I had one more in me."

Rocco was a joy to watch yesterday. His sense of humor, his relaxed demeanor, the infectious smile. But sorry Rocco, I just don't see how you can beat Tiger today.

(Photo: Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)