It was a shame that Tiger Woods pulled out that U.S. Open playoff on Monday.

Not that I have anything against Woods — arguably the greatest golfer of all time at just 32 years old — who secured his 14th major tournament and had not played since April 15 due to knee surgery.

He's been a great story during his career and there's something great — to me, anyway — about a dominating player or team and everyone gunning for him/them, and for the most part, failing.

But, more importantly, I love the underdog factor.

Woods, as the No. 1 golfer in the PGA against Mediate, the Greensburg native who had to qualify two weeks ago and was ranked 157th entering the U.S. Open.

What I liked more was that Mediate gave Woods all he could handle, but Woods, as is his norm, was able to pull it out in an unprecedented 19th playoff hole.

Most media types did not give Mediate a shot.

They touted Woods' birdie on the 18th hole on Sunday to force the playoff round Monday. Momentum that was going to carry over into Monday. It was also on Father's Day and it's been well-documented of Woods' father, Earl, who passed away a couple of years ago.

Yeah, Mediate wasn't given much of a chance and nearly pulled it off. Proving people wrong always makes a great story.

Look at a few of the greatest upsets off the top of my head:

• Unheralded boxer Buster Douglas handing juggernaut Mike Tyson his first professional loss — and by knockout to boot.

• The New York Jets defeating the Baltimore Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III.

• North Carolina State's 54-52 victory over the University of Houston in the 1983 NCAAMen's Basketball Championship. The Wolfpack had 10 losses entering the tournament while Houston (a.k.a. Phi Slamma Jamma), appeared to be unstoppable.

• The United States' victory over the Soviet Union in the semifinal round of the 1980 Winter Olympics, then the win over Finland in the championship game.

Granted there are more, some greater than these perhaps, but the idea of a major surprise gets everybody buzzing.

To be honest, a lot of people were not giving the Boston Celtics a chance against the Los Angeles Lakers, despite an NBA-best 66-16 record during the regular season.

The Celtics, who won just 24 games last season before a major rebuilding project added All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, were pushed to the limit in the first two rounds.

Boston won the first two series against Atlanta and Cleveland by 4-3 counts, then needed six games to down Detroit.

They jumped out to a 3-1 lead against the Lakers.

The Celtics winning the series would be a big story. Worst to first — always a classic approach. Kobe Bryant unable to win the big one without the Big One, Shaquille O'Neal — another good one.

You see, you can start picturing the headlines already.