Rocco Mediate was resigned to contesting a US Open play-off against the world's best golfer even before Tiger Woods rolled in the bumpy four-metre putt that tied his score.
"I knew he would make that putt. That is what he does," said Mediate after watching Woods' roaring, fist-pumping celebration on Torrey Pines' 18th green on television.
The US Open is the only major championship to stick with the traditional 18-hole play-off, and Monday's clash would probably not shape as a fair fight if Woods was healthy.
But the left knee causing him obvious pain threw a big question mark over his head to head battle with an unlikely but resilient opponent.
Chasing his 14th major title - but "only" his third US Open title in 12 starts - Woods found a way to keep his streak of never losing after leading into the final round of a major alive for at least another day when he sneaked that birdie putt in off the right edge.
One more bad bump on the green and Mediate, ranked a lowly 157th in the world, would have been the oldest US Open champion in history at age 45 - and six years since the last of his five tour wins.
"That was one of the worst parts of the green, it was so bumpy," Woods said of his putting line.
"I told myself it was two-and-a-half balls outside the right, make a pure stroke, and I did.
"I hit it exactly where I wanted to. It took forever to break and finally snuck in there at the end."
The American was playing for the first time since undergoing knee surgery after the US Masters in April and several times was forced to lean on a club for support during the final round.
Woods, who had double-bogeyed the first hole for the third time in four rounds, also bogeyed the second, but recovered to shoot a two-over-par 73, while Mediate shot 71.
They finished at one-under 283, one stroke ahead of Englishman Lee Westwood, who missed a six-metre birdie putt at the last that would have made it a three-way play-off.
Geoff Ogilvy finished best Australian, five strokes behind in a tie for ninth.
The 2006 champion was in the thick of things until he bogeyed the ninth and 10th holes.
Woods refused to use his knee problem as an excuse for several poor shots in his round.
While clearly in considerable pain early, he seemed less bothered after taking "some things to relieve that".
If his doctor had his way, the world No.1 wouldn't even be playing the Open.
"He told me 'don't play golf,'" Woods said.
Far from daunted, Mediate relished the opportunity to undergo the ultimate golf test in the 18-hole playoff.
"It is going to be a blast," Mediate said. "I am playing against a monster tomorrow morning. This week has been a total dream.
"To go up against the best player in the world and have a chance to beat him, there's nothing more you would ask for as a professional golfer, period.
"I want to see what I've got against the man. I know what he's got."
Playing alongside Ogilvy, Mediate started the day two shots behind leader Woods.
He went ahead with a birdie at No.14, but bogeyed No.15, as did Woods.
That gave Mediate the lead again but he could not make the one more birdie he needed to put it away.
"That man will crawl around if he has to," Mediate said of Woods.
"Sure, I'd like to have won outright but I didn't.
"I have nothing left right now. It was the most amazing day of golf I've ever experienced."
While Mediate was happy to have time to regroup for the play-off, Woods would rather have decided it today.
"I would rather go right now," he said. "But hey, I'll be ready tomorrow."
Of that you can be sure, even if he has to play on one leg.
