The Front Row: Never fails to amaze

THE HUMAN FACTOR: Seriously, what is left to say about this weekend’s U.S. Open?

Tiger Woods had every reason to pack it in and try for major championship No. 14 at next month’s British Open.

His surgically repaired left knee looked ready to crumble.

But, as the oft-repeated commercial told us, Woods has never met anyone as mentally tough as him — and he never will.

Monday’s sudden-death win after 18 stomach-churning playoff holes immediately earns a place in the Tiger pantheon, perhaps even tops it.

Between the second-nine 30, the impossible eagle on No. 13, the chip-in-and-grin on No. 17, the hang-a-right eagle putt on No. 18 for the share of the 54-hole lead, the 12-footer to force a playoff, the jaw-dropping sand save in Monday’s playoff round, I can’t imagine Woods ever topping this one.

Of course, statements like that are rendered obsolete anytime Woods takes the course. Out of anyone in sports today, he’s the person most capable of delivering living history.

Hats off to Rocco Mediate, who played the tournament of his life. How many people can say they’ve stared down the Tiger that successfully? You can count them on less than one hand.

Mediate was ranked No. 158 in the world going into Torrey Pines, but now, he’ll live on as an highlighted footnote when Woods’ career wraps up.

Heck, it’s easy to play the underdog. If you lose, no big deal. You weren’t supposed to be there, anyway.

But to win, year after year, tournament after tournament when everyone watching expects nothing less? That’s greatness.

For more than a decade now, we’ve been at a loss to capture how good Woods really is at this game. This weekend, the grimaces on his face and the visible frustration finally showed us he wasn’t just a golf machine. He is, indeed, human.

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TOO YOUNG?: Allisen Corpuz seems like a typical 10-year-old.

She likes to wear pigtails in her hair and tag along with her Dad and brother when they hit the golf course.

What sets Allisen apart? She fired an 80 at the USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links qualifier in Hawaii on Sunday.

At 10 years, 3 months and 9 days, she is the youngest golfer to ever take part in a USGA event, beating Michelle Wie’s record by six months.

With Corpuz being thrust into the spotlight at such an early age, we can only hope she has the right support system and the required mental toughness to deal with the nonstop scrutiny that comes along with this lifestyle.

Woods is doing just fine. Wie? I’ll be generous and say her career has had its ups and downs.

Perhaps Corpuz will be the next Annika Sorenstam. Perhaps we’ll never hear her name again.

I just hope this talented young girl gets to have a childhood.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747