June 16 (Bloomberg) -- Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate meet in an 18-hole playoff today to decide the U.S. Open golf championship, a head-to-head showdown that Mediate said will be a ``battle royale.''

Woods forced the playoff yesterday by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole, the latest dramatic moment in a professional career that features 75 wins worldwide.

Woods, 32, will be trying to win his 14th major title in his first tournament since undergoing surgery on his left knee two months ago. Mediate, 45, is 157th in the world rankings, 156 spots behind Woods, and is seeking to become the oldest winner in the 108-year history of the U.S. Open.

``I get to play for the national Open against the best player on earth, that maybe has ever played,'' said Mediate, who made the U.S. Open through a playoff in the qualifying rounds. ``How much more could you ask for? I couldn't be happier.''

The playoff for the season's second major championship starts today at noon New York time. Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN begins the television coverage, with General Electric Co.-owned NBC taking over at 2 p.m.

Woods won U.S. Open titles in 2000 and 2002, and has a 10-1 career record in U.S. PGA Tour playoffs. Two of his playoff wins came in majors: against Bob May at the 2000 PGA Championship and Chris DiMarco at the 2005 Masters.

Playoff Record

Mediate is 2-0 in playoffs, with the victories coming in 1991 and 1993. The last of his five PGA Tour wins came in 2002, a span of 138 starts, as he's been plagued by back problems in recent years. Mediate, who last season spent some time as a golf announcer on radio, is five months older than Hale Irwin was when he won the U.S. Open in 1990.

``Rock is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet,'' Woods said. ``He's been a friend of mine ever since I've been out here on Tour. We'll talk. But we'll also understand we're trying to win a U.S. Open. And we'll have our moments where we'll go our separate ways and be focused for each and every shot.''

Woods and Mediate finished at 1-under for four rounds, the first players to finish below par at the U.S. Open since 2004. England's Lee Westwood finished even par and missed a 15-foot birdie putt at the final hole that would have gained a spot in the playoff.

Mediate, playing in the group ahead of Woods, shot an even- par 71 during the final round, with three birdies and three bogeys. Woods shot a 73 that included a double-bogey, three bogeys and three birdies.

Lost Shots

Woods dropped three shots on the opening two holes, slipping back to even par for the tournament by double-bogeying the first hole for the third time in four days and adding a bogey at No. 2. Woods was visibly bothered by his surgically repaired knee early in the round, wincing on several tee shots and occasionally using his driver as a makeshift cane.

Woods bounced back with birdies on the ninth and 11th holes, and then fell out of the lead again with bogeys at the par-5 13th hole and the par-4 15th.

Woods and Westwood, playing in the final group, came to the 18th tee one shot behind Mediate. Both hit their drives into fairway bunkers and chose to lay up short of the green with their second shots. Woods hit a 60-degree lob wedge from the rough to the right side of the green, about 12 feet from the cup, while Westwood put his third shot about 15 feet away.

Westwood missed his birdie try, falling short in his attempt to become the first Englishman to capture a U.S. Open title since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

Trickle Down

Woods said he aimed his putt the width of 2 1/2 holes -- about 10 inches -- to the right and let it trickle down, hoping the uneven surface wouldn't throw it off line. When the putt dropped, he pumped both arms while the crowd celebrated and Mediate, watching on a nearby television screen, said: ``Unbelievable. I knew he'd make it.''

Woods had been scheduled to travel to Mexico today to visit a site for a possible golf course.

``I think they will understand,'' Woods said.

Woods would be the first U.S. PGA Tour player to win tournaments seven times on the same course. He also won the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in 1999, 2003 and 2005-08.

Woods has won 33 PGA Tour titles, including six majors, since Mediate's last victory.

``I'm playing against a monster,'' said Mediate. ``I get to play against the best player that ever played. Whatever happens, happens. I'm happy that I'm here and I will give it everything I have and see what we do.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Erik Matuszewski in New York at matuszewski@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: June 16, 2008 03:00 EDT