ESPN

Buzzmaster

  (12:42 PM)

Rocco Mediate will be here at 1 p.m. ET to take your questions!

Buzzmaster

  (1:01 PM)

I hear Rocco coming!

Buzzmaster

  (1:01 PM)

Rocco's here!

Jim (DC)

Can you really hit golf balls through metal like in the Diablo commercial? Is it you or the driver that allows you to do that? Follow up: did someone lock you in there? Why didn't you just open the door?

Rocco Mediate

  (1:02 PM)

As far as you know, Jim, it was me hitting through the wall. The Diablo is big and strong and can hit it through any metal.

Nick, Boston, MA

Hey Rocco, what do you make of the 40- and 50-somethings making charges in majors as of late (you, Norman, Kenny Perry)?

Rocco Mediate

  (1:03 PM)

Experience is a big deal. In Majors, that happens because you don't have to be miles long to compete. Experience makes a difference, it really does.

Patrick (Strongsville OH)

Rocco thanks again for giving us one of the greatest US Opens in history. Besides your equipment, what else did you change to increase your driving distance?

Rocco Mediate

  (1:05 PM)

I didn't change anything but the equipment. I could be on the cover of Muscle Fitness magazine, but I'm not. I really didn't change anything. My swing has gotten better, but I really didn't change anything. Other than the equipment.

Matt, Grand Rapids, Michigan

What do you contribute to your success at Torry Pines? With all due respect, you were not winning right before or since that Major. Yet you played Torrey like you grew up on the course and beat guys who did(Phil). Thank you for an amazing Open, winning and losing became irrelevant.

Rocco Mediate

  (1:06 PM)

I went in there playing good. I had a good tournament at Memorial two weeks before. Cindy my physical therapist had me in good shape. My back was good. I was loose and ready to roll. Those two factors. I had been playing good. She kept me loose and ready to roll. It almost all happened.

ray moore Centralia,wa

What do you think of all the golf equipment changes since you started playing and do you think it has made the game better? PS I'm a Tiger fan but if I wasn't ,you would be my favorite.

Rocco Mediate

  (1:08 PM)

It's changed in a monster way since I got out there in '86. The first metal wood came out in '86, I believe. Now, 23 years later, 13 with Callaway, it has gotten better. One thing about Callaway, we invented the way to make the game easier. They figured it out in the early '90s. We invented the way to make the game easier. We did. Especially with the drivers and fairway woods. It just continues to get that way. We're trying to make it easier for you to play the game. The only thing we can't do is make the club to hit the ball for you. But it's easier for you to play than it was 20 years ago.

Danny Gonzalez

Knowing now that you kept up with a severely injured tiger does it be little your thought of I kept up with the best.

Rocco Mediate

  (1:09 PM)

Not one single bit.

Kevin (Long Island)

Rocco, how do you feel now that Tiger is back on the tour. Did you feel like golf was a little bit more competitive in his absence since people knew they wouldn't have Tiger creeping up on their lead on Sunday's?

Rocco Mediate

  (1:10 PM)

No. Any time he's not on tour, it's not as good as when he's on tour. Our tour is cool without him, but it's even cooler with him on it.

Evan: (Greenville, SC):

What makes the US Open so special and different from the other majors?

Rocco Mediate

  (1:10 PM)

It's our national open. It's the ultimate examination of your game. No other major is the same. It's just everything you could ever want.

Rob (Greensburgh, PA)

You're the pride of Western PA! Tell us about this new Callaway Diablo driver. 18 yards? Wow!

Rocco Mediate

  (1:12 PM)

Like I was saying...I have 110MPH club head speed, max. It's hard to gain distance with that club head speed. But I did with the Diablo. It's not that fast of a club head speed. The average is about 115 or so. I'm not sure. But if I can gain 7 yards on average for the year, that's miles. I definitely carry the ball further with it. That helps a lot. I can shape it better.

Mike Scheuermann - Blue Heron Pines GC, NJ

Your mental attitude seems to be positive at all times and one of the best (examples) on Tour. Do players in general put too much pressure on themselves to WIN - instead of staying positive throughout the rounds knowing that only one person can achieve that challenging goal each tournament? Should it be about "the body of work" or just "what have you done lately?"Thanks.

Rocco Mediate

  (1:14 PM)

Yes, they do, for sure. You have to let go to do well, in any sport really. If you let go you'll do better than if you're trying to make something happen. Especially the young kids, they put too much pressure on themselves. Anthony Kim figured it out last year and won twice.

Andrew (Winnipeg, MB, Canada)

I am an average golfer that can get somewhat frustrated and unfocused after hitting a few bad shots in a row. What tips can you offer to help improve my mental game and keep focused through all 18 holes?

Rocco Mediate

  (1:15 PM)

Respect the difficulty of the game. You're going to hit bad shots. We hit bad shots. It's how you deal with them. Make the lowest score you can after a bad shot. People think you're not supposed to hit bad shots or shots on a bad line. That doesn't exist in this game.

Darien, CT

How are you feeling about the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage this year? How do you like the course set up, hows your game/physical health, and do you think you can win it all this year???

Rocco Mediate

  (1:16 PM)

I love Bethpage, looking forward to it. My health is fine. I have no idea how I'm going to play, but I'm looking forward to it. It's a rowdy atmosphere, especially for a major.

Brad St George Ut

How is your back and what do you do to keep it in shape?

Rocco Mediate

  (1:18 PM)

My back is good. Cindy is the one that takes care of my back. We have a company together that is Immediate Balance. It's going to cover physical therapy and golf swing. I don't do the physical therapy. We're going to get a website up. A physical therapist and me help you out with your golf game. It's ImmediateBalance.com.

Alex (Arlington)

Rocco, who are your dream partners in a threesome... in golf?

Rocco Mediate

  (1:18 PM)

I would to have played with Hogan. Jones and Walter Hagen. That would have been a blast.

Rocco Mediate

  (1:19 PM)

I have played a lot of golf with Mr. Palmer. But I'm spoiled, because I can play any time I want with him.

Stephen

I love watching you play because you play it the right way, and are a great ambassador for the sport. I hope to watch you for amny more years to come. How much longer do you plan on staying on tour?

Rocco Mediate

  (1:19 PM)

Forever....as much as I can. I want to finish this tour and go on to the champions tour. That's really nice, thanks.

Jon Lexington,KY

Rocco, How does it feel to have played in one of the Best US Open finishes ever and ALWAYS being a part of that history?

Rocco Mediate

  (1:20 PM)

It's really good that I was a part of that. It's something that you never forget. It's really an amazing week. Monday was the coolest thing I've ever experienced on the golf course.

Ryan (Newport Beach,CA)

i hear different perspectives on Tiger, what's your take on him as a person?

Rocco Mediate

  (1:22 PM)

Tiger on the course and on the range and hanging around with us, is a normal everyday guy. He likes giving you the needle and takes it, kinda. I haven't spent much time with him off the course. He's just an intense person on the course when he's working. THere's no right or wrong way to be. But being the best player ever he can do whatever he wants.

Rocco Mediate

  (1:23 PM)

Book's coming out. It's about the US Open, it's called ''Are you Kidding Me?'' It's coming out May 18. It's about what happened. I did it with John Feinstein. It was a great experience.