By Kathy Orton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 4, 2008

Rocco Mediate has gained legions of fans since he dueled with Tiger Woods in a 19-hole playoff at the U.S. Open a little more than two weeks ago. Yesterday at the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club, Mediate drew some of the biggest galleries on the course. At No. 10 -- his first hole of the round -- fans lined up 10 deep to watch him tee off.

One man held up a sign that read: "Greensburg, Pa. Loves Rocco." Mediate was born in Greensburg, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Another fan yelled: "Thanks for making Tiger earn one!" as Mediate came off the 11th green.

The previously anonymous journeyman has been receiving warm receptions everywhere he's been since losing his showdown with Woods. Last week at the Buick Open, fans were yelling and screaming his name.

"It's been fun and it's been insane and it's been amazing," Mediate said on Tuesday.

Mediate didn't look like he was having much fun yesterday. After making par on his first four holes, he three-putted on the par-4 No. 14 for a double bogey. Three holes later, on the par-4 17th, he sent his second shot into the greenside bunker and made bogey. A birdie on No. 7 brought him back to 2 over, but he ended his round with a bogey on No. 9. His 3-over-par 73 left him in a tie for 78th place.

It is not known if his balky back bothered him during his round since he refused to talk to reporters after signing his scorecard.

Charles Howell III was among the first players chosen for testing under the tour's anti-doping program that went into effect this week.

He left the scoring area around 5:45 p.m., and came back out to the putting green 40 minutes later. He was given a pink piece of paper showing that his sample was valid.

"I hope Gatorade Tiger passes the test," Howell said. "Because I put two bottles in me."

Allison Keller, a program administrator for the PGA Tour, said earlier this week that the process was expected to take between seven and 10 minutes. Commissioner Tim Finchem was the first to be tested on Wednesday, and he said it took 9 1/2 minutes.

Davis Love III also was tested, and Howell said Love had to go back downstairs to his locker to get his identification. The tour does not disclose who gets tested, although Howell figured he was not the first.

"They have a sink to wash your hands, and there were a half-dozen towels piled up in the corner," he said. . . .

Stuart Appleby's spectacular par save on the par-3 No. 7 -- his 16th hole of the day -- allowed him to turn in one of the day's four bogey-free rounds. Appleby, the 1998 Kemper Open winner, shot a 3-under 67 to finish two shots behind first-round leader Steve Marino.

A wayward tee shot on No. 7 left Appleby's ball in the rough behind the greenside bunker. His second shot advanced the ball only seven feet into the sand. A "terrible shot," Appleby said. With 30 feet left to the pin, he holed his sand shot for a 3. . . .

Steve Elkington (76), the 1995 PGA Championship winner, and Craig Kanada (79) withdrew after the first round. After a triple bogey on No. 11, the most difficult hole on the course, Shigeki Maruyama walked off the course and withdrew. He reportedly injured his left thumb.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.