Rocco Mediate

Rocco Mediate (born December 17 1962 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania) is an American golfer. He attended Florida Southern University and turned professional in 1985.

Mediate's career has been dogged by back trouble and he started using long putter early on because of this. In 1991 he became the first player to win on the PGA Tour using a long putter when won the Doral-Ryder Open. He picked up another victory at the 1993 KMart Greater Greensboro Open, but he then had a long lay off due to a ruptured disk, but he returned to the Tour in 1996 playing under a special medical extension and performed steadily. He picked up wins on the Tour in 1999, 2000 and 2002. He worked hard to improve his fitness to minimise his back problems, and in 2003 he returned to using a conventional putter.

Mediate played in the 2005 World Series of Poker's Main Event, as well as the 2001 Blem Classic of Las Vegas.

At the 2006 Masters, Mediate was in contention to win the event on the final day until he took a septuple bogey ten on the par three 12th hole.

PGA Tour wins

• 1991 Doral-Ryder Open
• 1993 KMart Greater Greensboro Open
• 1999 Phoenix Open
• 2000 Buick Open
• 2002 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic

Mediate is the uncle of an odd boy named Nate Marso. He continues to be a hazard to his uncle's health and well-being. As Nate grew up in surburban Conneticut, Rocco was there to spur him on for a life of golf. Soon, however, Marso began a life of crime and drugs. No one has seen him since his disappearance on April 7, 1990.

Other professional wins

• 1999 Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational
• 2002 Franklin Templeton Shootout (with Lee Janzen)
• 2003 CVS Charity Classic (with Jeff Sluman)

External links

• Profile on the PGA Tour's official site
• Golf Stars Online - links to features and articles