ShareThisBy GREG HARDWIG
Friday, October 20, 2006
The last time many golf viewers saw Rocco Mediate, he was falling apart _ both golf-wise and physically _ during the final round of the Masters. He dropped out of contention when his back started acting up yet again, leading to a 10 on the par-3 12th when he splashed two balls in the water.
After taking three months off following a missed cut at the U.S. Open, Mediate and his aching back are back. And while Mediate will be an on-course reporter for three PGA Tour events for The Golf Channel in early 2007, don't write his tour obituary just yet.
"Everyone thinks I'm done, but I'm not done at all," Mediate said after shooting a 3-under-par 69 in the first round of the Funai Classic at Walt Disney World Resort on Thursday. "I'm going to do those three weeks for (the Golf Channel) and then play a full schedule. I'm not done with these guys yet."
As long as he's healthy, Mediate, who turns 44 in December, has proven that. Look no further than the Masters, where he was in contention before his back started bothering him again. The five-time tour winner also tied for sixth at the U.S. Open during an equally up-and-down 2005.
"I've had a very rough two years," said Mediate, who lives in North Naples, Fla. "A lot of times I've contemplated 'That's enough,' but I'm not done yet. I got myself back in good shape, lost more weight. It was a little sticky today, but it's the third week traveling, so it's OK. I'm just testing it out."
During his break, Mediate did nothing but work on his body. And he did most of it at The Health Club of Naples, which has a golf-related fitness program. He's also continued to work with instructors Jimmy Ballard and Rick Smith.
"I always talk to Rick, but Jimmy's helped me a lot, taught me a lot about my back," Mediate said. "They're both good guys."
Mediate will make his debut on The Golf Channel at the Mercedes Championships in Hawaii in January, then follow up with the Sony Open in Hawaii and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. The Orlando-based cable channel is starting a 15-year contract with the PGA Tour that will include first- and second-round coverage of almost every tournament.
"The Golf Channel called me and asked if I would do it," he said. "I've done some stuff for them as far as playing lessons and they turned out OK, I guess. And they wanted to see how I did on TV. I said I'd love to try it for three weeks."
In early September, Mediate returned to the tour for the 84 Lumber Classic in his native Pennsylvania. He shot 76-71 and missed the cut. The next week he rallied with a second-round 68 to make the cut in the Valero Texas Open and tied for 50th. It got better the next week _ he tied for 16th at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic. Mediate did tie for 56th in the Frys.com Open in Las Vegas, but he's been playing better than he's been scoring.
"I've played really good," he said. "I've putted awful or else I would've been a lot more dangerous. But it's coming. It's coming."
What comes for Mediate in 2007? He's not that concerned about his spot on the money list _ 206th going into Disney. Unless he finishes very strong this week and next week at the Chrysler Championship in Tampa, he won't finish in the top 125 to keep his tour card. However, he can use a medical exemption next year for the time he missed, and he also can use unlimited sponsor exemptions.
"I'm not worried about it," he said. "I'll play as much as I want. That's the least of my worries. If I'm healthy, I'll be fine. That's the question."
Mediate can't wait for a good period of time when it isn't one.
