Rocco Mediate

Rocco Anthony Mediate (born December 17 1962) is an American professional golfer with multiple PGA Tour wins.

Mediate was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. According to the Golf Channel, he is the son of a barber and has an Italian background. He attended Florida Southern College and turned professional in 1985.

Career

Mediate's golfing career has been dogged by back trouble. Early on, he compensated by using a long putter. [ [http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=10977 Transcript of Rocco Mediate news conference] , Buick Open, Aug. 11, 2000 ] In 1991 he became the first player to win on the PGA Tour using a long putter when he won the Doral-Ryder Open. He picked up another victory at the 1993 KMart Greater Greensboro Open, but he then had a long layoff due to a ruptured disk. He underwent major back surgery in 1999, but lost practically five years of his career. Back pain returned in 2004 and later nearly ended his career. [http://www.gaylordsports.com/golf_bio.aspx?id=47&tour=P Bio of Mediate] , Gaylord Sports]

Mediate returned to the Tour in 1996 playing under a special medical extension and performed steadily. He picked up wins on the Tour in 1999, 2000 and 2002. After improving his fitness to minimize his back problems, he returned to using a conventional putter in 2003.

Mediate has been featured in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Rankings and considered to be one of the best putters in golf. At the 2006 Masters, Mediate was in contention to win the event on the final day until he took a septuple-bogey ten on the par three 12th hole. His best finish in a major championship was a second place showing at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines South Course. Tied with Tiger Woods at -1 after regular tournament play, then tied again at even par through the 18 hole playoff, Woods finally bested Mediate on the first hole (hole #7) of sudden death, the 91st hole of the tournament. It was only the third time a U.S. Open playoff had gone to sudden death. Mediate's performance gained him 111 spots in the world golf rankings, moving him from 158th to 47th place, and automatic berths in the next four majors.

Equipment

Callaway FT-5 Driver

Callaway FT-i Squareway Wood (15º)

Callaway X Hybrid (18º)

Callaway X-20 Irons

Callaway 52º and 56º X Forged Wedges

Odyssey Sabertooth White Hot XG Putter

Callaway Tour ix Ball

Callaway Tour Staff Bag

Footjoy Dry Joy Shoes

Other activities

On October 9, 2006, it was announced that Mediate would become an on-course reporter for The Golf Channel's 2007 PGA Tour coverage.

Mediate played in the 2005 World Series of Poker's , as well as the 2001 Blem Classic of Las Vegas.fact|date=June 2008

Personal life

Mediate is a distant cousin of D.C. United soccer player Domenic Mediate. [ [http://baylorbears.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/mtt/mediate_carmine00.html Player Bio: Carmine Mediate :: Men's Golf ] ] [ [http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/players/roster.jsp?club=t103 D.C. United: Roster: Main ] ] He is a member of the Calusa Pines Golf Club and resides in the Tuscany Reserve subdivision in Naples, Florida. [ [http://www.collierappraiser.com/RecordDetail.asp?
] ] His close friend Lee Janzen, another PGA Tour pro, also attended Florida Southern and played on the golf team as well.

Professional wins (9)

PGA Tour wins (5)

*1991 Doral-Ryder Open
*1993 KMart Greater Greensboro Open
*1999 Phoenix Open
*2000 Buick Open
*2002 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic

Other wins (4)

*1999 Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational
*2000 Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (with Notah Begay III and Phil Mickelson)
*2002 Franklin Templeton Shootout (with Lee Janzen)
*2003 CVS Charity Classic (with Jeff Sluman)

Results in major championships

DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.

Results in World Golf Championship events

¹Cancelled due to 9/11
DNP = Did not play
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
WD = Withdrew
"T" = tied
NT = No Tournament
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.

References

External links

* [http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/17/97 Profile on PGA Tour's official site]