Confident Mediate wants Tiger rematch

By Norman Dabell

SOUTHPORT (Reuters) - Rocco Mediate's brush with U.S. Open fame is having a knock-on effect at the British Open where the American lies two strokes off Greg Norman's early lead.

While most of the field are relieved the injured Tiger Woods is missing this week, Mediate would have preferred the world number one to be at Royal Birkdale.

"I want him to get better quickly, I want a rematch," he told reporters after a three-over 73 earned a two-over total of 142.

Mediate, beaten by Woods in a 19-hole playoff in last month's U.S. Open, has been buoyed by their duel and by an improvement in a long-standing back ailment.

"My back has been much better and that has made the difference this week, that and getting into the U.S. Open playoff with Tiger," said the 45-year-old. "It gives you a whole bunch of confidence.

"I've been struggling for years with my back and to be able to do what I'm doing in this (bad) weather is marvelous.

"I love this game and that I can do it for a living in front of people is just the coolest thing in the world and I want to keep it for a while."

However, a cool putter prevented the four-times U.S. PGA Tour winner getting even closer to Norman.

"I hit the ball way better today and shot four higher," said first round co-leader Mediate. "The putts didn't drop. I made them all yesterday."

In the opening round Mediate needed only 21 putts while he ran up 32 in the second.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)