You read it, and you’ll never guess who’s back on top.

After almost getting it done against Tiger Woods in the U.S. Open, many did not expect Rocco Mediate to have the strong start that he had in the 2008 British Open Championship and carry on with the momentum he had at Torrey Pines.

Lo and behold, Rocco Mediate shot a 1-under 69 to share the first round lead at The 137th Open Championship with Robert Allenby and Graeme McDowell. After having a taste of superstardom after earning a playoff match with Tiger at the U.S. Open, he’ll be having more than just a taste if Mediate keeps this up.

‘’It was just one of those rounds,'’ Rocco Mediate said. ‘’It was just up and down and up and down and a couple of birdies, and here we are. I would have been ecstatic with 73 or 74 today. I’m ecstatic with this one. This was a lot of fun.'’

Mediate was under the weather so to speak, coming to the latest tournament on the golf course. His bad back was well documented and putting that back on display against a temperature as low as the low 50s, not to mention the wind gusting up to 25 mph, nobody was expecting this dude to even have the slightest of impacts.

But after coming that close from beating Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open, you just know he was looking to stir up something at Lancashire, England.

‘’He was feeling really, really bad this morning,'’ physical therapist Cindi Hilfman said. At one point, Mediate lay on the ground and Hilfman helped alleviate his pain by pushing on his right hip while he maneuvered his spine.

It was a 30-second procedure before his round that Mediate downplayed, but one that was quite important, considering where he has been in a career plagued by back problems.

It worked out perfectly.

‘’I want a chance to see if I can handle it all again and maybe do one better,'’ Mediate said. ‘’I actually look forward to seeing what happens. I think [the U.S. Open experience] has done nothing but make me better, even though I did not win the golf tournament.'’

‘’Some people do forget that.'’

Who will win the 2008 British Open Championship? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Rocco Mediate 21.00

Sergio Garcia 9.00

Phil Mickelson 81.00

Vijay Singh 151.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more golf betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

British Open Rocco Mediate