It was hard for Cydney Clanton to root against Tiger Woods.

“He’s pretty amazing,” she said.

But, the Auburn University women’s golfer wouldn’t have been the least bit upset if Rocco Mediate, a 45-year-old PGA Tour journeyman who had to qualify just to get in, would have beaten the world’s No. 1 golfer in the U.S. Open this past week at Torrey Pines.

“You always want to see the underdog win,” Clanton said. “To have the best player in the world win on one leg, or to have a guy like Rocco come out of nowhere to beat him would have been a win-win situation either way.”

It’s that underdog mentality that had Clanton, and the rest of the golfing world, on the edge of their seats Monday after 19 holes of masterpiece theater for the greatest title in all of golf.

After all, that’s the situation Clanton now finds herself in. The Auburn freshman will be one of just a handful of qualifiers trying to do the impossible — have a chance to win the U.S. Open.

Earlier this month, Clanton, the SEC Freshman of the Year, earned a spot to play in the next week’s 2008 U.S. Women’s Open by shooting a 69 and 71 in a 36-hole qualifier at Forest Creek Golf Club in Pinehurst, N.C.

She is one of six AU golfers — past or present — to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open, which begins next Thursday at the Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn.

“It’s the biggest tournament I’ve ever played in,” Clanton said. “The U.S. Open is a special tournament, because a lot of pros aren’t assured a spot — they have to qualify. And there’s a lot of great golfers out there who aren’t on (the LPGA Tour) or are playing collegiately.

“So what it does is bring the best field to the tournament.”

Even though playing in the Open is the highlight of Clanton’s career, it’s not her first white-knuckle event.

Not only has Clanton played in hundreds of major junior and amateur events, she’s been on collegiate golf’s biggest stage as well. The First-Team All-American and the National Golf Coaches Association Freshman Golfer of the Year ended her freshman campaign ranked No. 13 in the country. She averaged a team-best 73.54 stroke average for the Tigers, while tying for 23rd in the NCAA Championships.

In July, Clanton will travel to the Tokyo Golf Club to take part in the Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship. Then, in August, Clanton will play in the U.S. Women’s Amateur in Eugene, Ore.

It’s a busy schedule, but one that Clanton’s excited about. Especially with the way she’s been playing golf.

“Right now, I’m hitting it really solid,” she said. “So going into the (U.S. Open), I’m feeling pretty positive.

“It’ll be a different atmosphere out there, but I hope I can keep my cool and be patient.”

Patience is the key when playing in the U.S. Open, as any golfer can attest. That, and having a steady short game. Which is something Clanton says she’s been working on.

“I’ve always been a good striker of the ball,” she said. “I know I can hit it. At this point, the most important thing I need to work on is my short game. I learned that you don’t always have to go out and beat balls for two hours. You need to take that time to chip and putt.

“I know I can hit the ball well, so my focus lately has been about getting it in the hole.”

And while qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open has been a goal of Clanton’s since she picked up a putter, it doesn’t mean she’s done dreaming.

Far from it.

“I’m hoping this is just the beginning,” she said. “Obviously, I’m going to set bigger and higher goals and hope to accomplish them. I set goals to be (SEC) Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-American and achieved them. All I can do is set my goals higher and improve my golf game.

“Hopefully, this isn’t the end. Hopefully, it’s just the beginning.”

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