Rocco Mediate admits he drank during professional rounds

Former PGA Tour player Rocco Mediate revealed in an interview Wednesday that he battled alcoholism throughout his career, admitting he frequently drank during professional events.

"Absolutely I have (played while drinking). Because it was just normal for me," Mediate said, according to Golf Channel's Will Gray. "It was just a daily ritual, let's say. You can put it in a lot of places. A lot of places. Was it every time? No. But most of the time when the pain came in, it wasn't not going to happen."

Mediate battled back injuries throughout his playing career and admitted he drank to deal with the pain.

The 56-year-old - who described his old self as a "habitual alcoholic" - also revealed he hasn't had a drink since going cold turkey in October 2017.

"I couldn't tell you since last October, years before that, a day I went without having a drink," he added. "I knew at the time that eventually it was going to get me."

Mediate won six times on the PGA Tour, most recently in 2010, but is best remembered for his playoff loss to Tiger Woods at the 2008 U.S. Open.