Tiger Woods has a new Rival: Everyone.

This weeks U.S. Open spotlighted a few major issues with professional golf. First of which is that Tiger Woods does indeed have a rival, and his name is The Field. With Rocco Mediate coming oh-so-close to beating Woods, albeit with an injured knee, Woods showed that he may have vulnerability as he ages, and that he does have a rival unlike any great rivalry in the history of sports: Woods vs. The Field. Even odds.

It is amazing that Tiger prevailed at the U.S. Open. He just does not let anyone win. On the other hand, with sponsors and corporations constantly sucking his dick it's hard to imagine this four star all-American over-achieving marketing freak continuing this kind of shenanigans forever.

As George Carlin said to open his last HBO comedy special: "Fuck Tiger Woods."

Americans are now rooting for the underdog. Even if all the sportscasters are smitten.

The U.S.G.A. put on an unbelievably fair test of golf at Torrey Pines. With the graduated rough, the further offline you were, the more you were punished. The greens, while running fast, didn't seem to be in the greatest of condition considering all the bumps and chunks from the scores of players who walked through there preceding and during the tournament. And I like how they switched up the tee locations, if anything it was a break to be closer if only for a couple of days. There truly was an element of luck running amuck when Tiger holed the putt on 18 to force the playoff with jovial Rocco Mediate. You could see the ball bumping and jumping all over the place, which is probably why Tiger was so thrilled when the ball fell. He knew that he got lucky, and we all know that luck alone cannot carry Woods through another major.

Rocco Mediate? He certainly is one of the happiest, most human golfers we've ever seen get the privilege of answering questions for the press. It's not dissimilar to when what's-his-name Paul Goydos, yesterday's Rocco Mediate, lost to Sergio Garcia (with a two putt) at The Players. Paul Goydos is long forgotten as will be Rocco, but Sergio and Tiger continue at the forefront of the marketing campaigns of the real majors: Nike and Adidas.

Bottom line: The Field (namely everyone that is really good at golf who's name you don't know) is eventually going to overtake Those With The Big Names, and I'm guessing most of golf's spectators can't wait.

Too bad Justin Rose can't break the surface. And everybody loves Adam Scott, why can't his Australian ass post any major victories against Tiger? The Field has got to learn to be more clutch players. No excuses, beat the leaders. Where's Steven Ames' smack talk for God's sake?

And aside from Adam Scott, you know who us Americans all deep down rooting for... you know...

Boo Weekley! (who is 7 days older than I am) Win dem dang tournaments Boo. Dang. Ain't nobody beatin you, yessir. You're what golf need: a little bit of southern charm and a whole lot of the American human condition.

Who's the next winner: Jeev Milkha Singh? He'd make a fine statement by beating Tiger in the final group on the final day of a major. Or Ryuji Imada? Some international player has got to find it within themselves to topple the incumbent. It's just a matter of time. Look at Ochoa vs. Sorenstam.

Daniel Chopra or Ian Poulter? Charles Howell III, or David Love III? Buba Watson or J.B Holmes? Woody Austin or Steve Sticker? Jim Furyk or Stewart Cink? You know what I'm talking about...