By STEVE MAZZONE

Sports writer

It was just over a year ago when Rocco Mediate stole the show, but not the overall prize, at the 2008 U.S. Open. The 20-plus year veteran with just nine PGA Tour wins under his belt took the world’s greatest golfer, Tiger Woods, to the limit at Torrey Pines South course, eventually losing an 18-hole playoff on the Monday preceding the four-day event when Woods was able to claim his 14th  major by rolling in his par putt on a sudden-death, seventh hole, the 91st of the tournament.
Considering that was only the third playoff in the history of the U.S. Open, the chances are slim that another one will occur this year. But with the excessive rain that flooded the greens and fairways of Bethgate Black yesterday for the first round, there is a chance that for the second straight year a winner will be determined on Monday.
The forecast is calling for the wet stuff to continue throughout the weekend which could move the scheduled Father‘s Day finish to the next day. On Thursday, 78 players completed a combined 461 holes before play was halted in the early morning. Thirty-two birdies were made as compared to 169 bogeys.
 "I wish I had better news," said Jim Hyler, chairman of the USGA's championship committee, in an article on ESPN.com.
When the weather does finally cooperate, who will win this year’s U.S. Open? The obvious pick would be Woods, who unlike last year now has two healthy legs and has won two tournaments already this year since returning in February after an eight-month layoff due to knee surgery. Besides, it’s a major, and we all know how the future Hall-of-Famer performs when the stage is at its biggest. He’s won 14 of these things already and four U.S. Opens.
There’s also Padraig Harrington, who has won the last two British Opens and was also the victor at the 2008 PGA Championship. Harrington missed the cut at the St. Jude’s Classic last week, but he always seems to be ready in the big tournaments, especially the past few years.
How about Mediate again? He has three top-10 finishes in the last eight Opens. The odd are high, though, that Rocco will repeat last year’s magic. He’s made 12-of-12 cuts this year but his best finish was when he tied for 22nd at the Quail Hollow Championship on May 3.
The sentimental choice  and certainly a strong contender is Phil Mickelson. Mickelson will be playing in only his second tournament since his wife, Amy, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The mostly New York gallery, who always have been huge supporters of Mickelson whenever he graces the state, will be pulling for him more than ever this weekend.
Although I usually (actually always) predict it will be Woods that will be hoisting the trophy at the end of any major tournament, I’m thinking this time it could be Lefty.
He has the emotional boost. Just a few days earlier, he received a text message from his wife at their home saying that she wanted him to return with the U.S. Open trophy.
Mickelson also has the game and the talent to win. He’s currently ranked No. 2 worldwide, trailing Mr. Woods. Mickelson finished tied for 59th at last week’s St. Jude’s, which is not exactly a momentum builder. But you have to consider that was his first time on the course since May when he announced his wife had cancer.
Mickelson likes to gamble and that has often been his demise. Remember the 2006 U.S. Open when he let a two-shot lead with four holes remaining dissolve after going for broke when his drive landed behind a hospitality tent on the 18th hole. Rather than lay it up onto the fairway old Phil tried to blast a shot near the green. It didn’t work out and he settled for a bogey instead of a sure par, leaving him tied for second behind eventual champion Geoff Ogilvy.
My guess is Mickelson will be more focused, especially with Amy on his mind.  He’s already won two tournaments this year and also has three majors to his credit. He’s never won the U.S. Open, finishing as a bridesmaid four times. It would certainly make a great story if he could finally top the field.

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If the U.S. Open does continue until Monday due to the rain, it will alter some of the participants for the upcoming CVS/Caremark Charity Classic. The popular two-day tournament, which also begins on Monday, has seven of its players in Farmingdale, N.Y., for the Open - Zach Johnson, Bubba Watson, Nick Whatney, Camillo Villegas, Anthony  Kim, Retief Goosen and Boo Weekley. My guess is if the U.S. Open is extended another day and one or more of these players makes the cut, Mediate could be making another visit to the Rhode Island Country Club. He’s a good friend of tourney hosts Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon and also a frequent participant at CVS. He’s also a past winner, teaming with Jeff Sluman to win in 2003.
There’s also Sergio Garcia, another past participant.
Another possibility would be to have Cumberland native and PGA player Brad Adamonis in the field. Adamonis, who has been on the Tour for four years, is already in town and competing in the pro-am on Sunday. It will be interesting to see who Brad and Billy will conjure up if the weather is uncooperative at the Open.
For ticket information for the CVS event, check out the website at cvscharityclassic.com.