If any more proof was needed as to the other-worldliness of Mr. Tiger Woods… we got it this weekend. Anyone who saw his gritty performance on day 3 of the 2008 US Open will, I’m willing to bet, never forget it for the rest of their lives.

People will be telling their grandkids about “the time Tiger took the lead with one leg tied behind his back.”

With 6 holes to go, he was 5 strokes back. At the end of that third round, he was one shot in the lead. Oh, and every single swing–every step, every mile–had him wincing in pain. See, a mere 8 weeks ago, Tiger had knee surgery.

Most people thought he was crazy to try and play such a grueling course as Torey Pines so soon after that procedure.

And almost as soon as his first tee shot, the announcers and fans began searching out any evidence that the knee was bothering him. They didn’t have to wait long to find it.

People, on Saturday, on one of the last tees, Tiger nearly fell over after his shot and had to steady himself with his hand for a few seconds. The guy was clearly in serious pain, yet contending for the lead in a major tournament. Curt Schilling’s bloody sock has nothing on Woods!

Here’s a compilation of highlights from his inspirational round on Saturday:

Then, yesterday (Sunday), he struggled some more. Everyone struggled, really. But Tiger was the only one fighting his knee as well as the course.

With Rocco Mediate at 1-under in the clubhouse, Tiger needed a birdie on 18 to force a tie. And you don’t have to be the amazing Kreskin to know how it turned out:

As happy as Tiger is to have forced a playoff, it’s probably the last thing his knee needed. The US Open is unique in that they break a tie not with sudden death… but with an entire 18-hole round the next day.

Honestly, is there anyone that thinks this tournament would have been remotely close if Tiger had two good legs? Here is a guy about as crippled as a golfer can be, unable to use a lot of his signature shots due to pain, and he bested every single able-bodied golfer in the field save one.

Tiger and Rocco tee off today at 12:00noon Eastern. And I feel bad for Mr. Mediate. You thought there was a lot of pressure yesterday?! Think again.

Tiger can shoot 18 over today and lose miserably, and no one can take anything away from the way he added to his legend this weekend. The guy is simply amazing. Anyone you catch downplaying or diminishing the greatness of Tiger’s play this weekend is either someone that has never played golf or someone that is just plain stupid.