Tiger Woods has played better golf, for sure, but he has never played more compelling golf. He hobbled through the U.S. Open on one leg and battled his way into an 18-hole playoff against journeyman Rocco Mediate.

Here is how some of our nation’s leading sports pundits saw it:

Mike Downey, Chicago Tribune: “You wondered if there was a chance he might not even be able to finish the round. Kind of like Luke Donald, whose wrist hurt so badly he had to walk off the course Sunday after playing 68 of the tournament’s 72 holes. But Woods’ will to win won’t let him. Recovering from poor lies, working his way around trees, blasting out of fairway bunkers, Woods looked wounded out there. But he was the one stalking his prey.”

Pat Forde, ESPN.com: “The inevitability of the Woods birdie clashed with the celebration its author unleashed afterward. He furiously pumped both fists. He bellowed so ferociously that you could have fit a Callaway Big Bertha head in his mouth. He was as stoked as the thousands who stood screaming all around him, once again awed by Woods’ will when the chips are down. That celebration told the true story of Sunday, and of this U.S. Open: Tiger has never had to work this hard to win a major. Never had more to overcome. Never dealt with a bigger physical challenge than the one presented by his chronically painful left knee.”

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: “It will be the first U.S. Open playoff since 2001 at Southern Hills, when Retief Goosen defeated Mark Brooks on a Monday in Oklahoma. Never mind that Woods vs. Mediate sets up like Ali vs. Wepner. Woods is 32 years old to Mediate’s 45. Woods has won 13 major championships to Mediate’s none. Woods has 64 PGA tour victories to Mediate’s five.”

Mike Celizic, NBCSports.com: “The biggest roars should have been for Rocco Mediate, not Tiger Woods. That’s how it is in America. We cheer for the underdog and find reasons to tear down the guy on top. But it doesn’t work that way for Tiger Woods, just as it didn’t work that way for Michael Jordan. It’s as if once you get to a certain level of excellence, a level so obvious that even the most iconoclastic curmudgeon can’t miss it, the rules get suspended; the hero gets a pass.”

Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports: “Tiger doesn’t just play golf. That’s why he’s No. 1, that’s why he has survived a knee that on any given follow through might have the cartilage catch, immobilizing him in pain. That’s why he arguably is the baddest cat in sports, an indomitable champion. So here on one of his most unusual majors, perhaps it’s fitting he’ll have to beat a most unusual opponent. Usually Woods can crumble someone in a head-to-head match before they leave the first tee. The glare, the gait, the red shirt, the frightening intensity that says this is no game for him has humbled players a lot better than Rocco Mediate.”

David Whitley, Orlando Sentinel: “Tiger goes into a five-hour trance when he shows up to work. He marches point to point between holes, staring straight ahead. If this golf thing doesn’t work out, he’d make a great guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Rocco walks down the fairway waving like a homecoming queen on a parade float. The only reason he waves is because he’s not close enough to talk.”

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while wondering if Anthony Reyes, back from exile, will finally secure his place on this pitching staff:

• Wasn’t it nice of the Lakers to give the Celtics their opportunity to clinch another NBA title on their home court?
• Seriously, did the Lakers do anything Sunday night victory to make you believe they can actually win in Boston?
• Why does Mets management leave manager Willie Randolph to twist in the wind? Doesn’t he deserve better than that?

WHY WE LOVE THE INTERNET

NBA commissioner David Stern recently blamed biased home-team announcers for fueling the officiating controversy. After all, rogue referee Tim Donaghy couldn’t create this much fuss all by himself.

But conspiracy theorists have long complained about dubious playoff officiating patterns. And the Internet gives them a forum to air their grievances. This clip, brought to our attention by Deadspin.com, is typical of what you can find out there.

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing on other topics:

Norman Chad, syndicated columnist, siding with the NBA commissioner on the officiating controversy: “I’ve never much liked David Stern. He is the master of spin; if he had skippered the Titanic, he would’ve blamed global warming. He wears his arrogance like cheap cologne and talks down to anyone within earshot. Alas, today I am at his service. In (Tim) Donaghy’s letter filed in court, there is not a single name attached to his charges. There is a bunch of smoke there — the type you get at NBA arenas during those trumped-up player introductions — but I can’t find the fire yet.”

Mike Lupica, New York Daily News: “(Rafael) Nadal didn’t just beat Roger Federer last Sunday, he pushed him out a window.”

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “The Detroit Tigers temporarily demoted struggling former Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis to their low minor-league team in Lakeland. Mighty hard fall for the lefty. D-Train used to be a joyful nickname. Now it’s a letter grade.”

Dan Daly, Washington Times: “Memo to Colin Montgomerie: You can’t whine about not getting invited to the Masters and then shoot 79-77 - 14 over, for those of you scoring at home - in the first two rounds at Torrey Pines. Not, at least, if you ever want to be taken seriously again.”

MEGAPHONE

“I mean, my fans are happy and I’m happy for them. The other half are going to tear this apart on how we won this race. But I got the trophy and I got the points. I got to see my team and my owner and my family tonight as happy as they’ve been in a long time. … It’s a pretty big day for me.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr., after using deft fuel conservation to win at Michigan International Speedway.