Tiger Woods beat Rocco Mediate at the first hole of sudden death after an 18-hole play-off to win his third US Open on this day in 2008.

Woods forced the play-off at Torrey Pines when he converted a 15-foot birdie putt on 18, which saw the pair tied on one under after four rounds in southern California.

Mediate, who was bidding to become the oldest US Open winner at the age of 45, led by one on the final tee but Woods produced a dramatic birdie to take the contest to sudden death.

Mediate missed a putt to save par at the 19th hole and Woods took advantage, sealing his 14th major victory on the same day he celebrated 500 weeks as world number one.

Woods admitted victory was the greatest of his career having recovered from knee surgery two months prior and suffering with pain throughout the tournament.

“I don’t know how it even got this far but I’m very, very fortunate to have played 91 holes and come out on top,” Woods said.

Tiger Woods won the US Open – his 14th major title – on this day in 2008 (Jane Barlow/PA)

“I think this is the best, just because of all the things I had to deal with.

“It’s a close one with the first (major) that I won (at the 1997 Masters).

“I dealt with a few things this week and just had to keep plugging along.

“I wasn’t feeling my best, I didn’t get off to the greatest of starts and when I finally got off to a good start (in the play-off), I screwed that up by finding the bunker on three.”

Woods had to wait 11 years for his 15th major – the 2019 Masters – and remains three behind fellow American Jack Nicklaus, who stands top of the list in men’s golf with 18.