SAN DIEGO - American journeyman Rocco Mediate was disappointed rather than upset after narrowly failing to pull off a stunning playoff victory over world number one Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open on Monday.

Mediate, who has come close to quitting the game because of perennial back trouble, led Woods by one playing the last before being edged out at the 19th hole.

"I gave him the best that I had and it wasn't quite good enough, but it almost was," Mediate, 45, told reporters. "It wasn't like I got my butt handed to me today.

"And I know that I still can do this stuff and I want to try that again sometime, somewhere. I'm disappointed a little that I didn't beat him but just disappointed, not upset."

Mediate, who began last season as a TV commentator with his playing career in doubt because of a chronic back injury, came from three down after 10 holes at Torrey Pines.

He reeled off three consecutive birdies from the 13th to lead Woods by one before his opponent forced sudden-death with a two-putt birdie at the 18th where Mediate could only par.

"I tried to hit a low hook on 18, just a little too much," Mediate said of his tee shot which ended up in a fairway bunker. "I had a putt at it. I missed it, but I had the putt.

"After my putt went in on 15, I said, if I can keep hitting good shot after good shot, which I pretty much did, I'm going to win this golf tournament. I threw everything I had."

RELISHED EXPERIENCE

The affable Mediate, aiming to eclipse compatriot Hale Irwin as the oldest U.S. Open champion, said he had relished his entire experience at Torrey Pines.

"It was a blast," said the Florida resident, who was world-ranked a lowly 158th last week. "I wasn't nearly as nervous as I thought I would be. I was a little nervous early, just a little shaky.

"And then all of a sudden it got better and better and I got more comfortable. Coming in I felt great. It was an honour being out there and I'm sure that I scared him. I did good today."

Mediate, who won the last of his five PGA Tour titles in 2002, felt he had learned an important lesson in his head-to-head with the world's best player.

"I learned that I can handle this heat," he said. "I've won golf tournaments, but not this stuff, especially against him with everybody in the world looking in and expecting me to get my ass handed to me.

"And I almost got it done. If anybody in this world goes up against Tiger when he's at his best, they are going to lose, it's just that simple. I don't care who it is.

"Was he at his best this week? He was pretty good. Obviously he's hurt. But there's where he's his best," added Mediate, referring to the knee pain experienced by Woods during the tournament.