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Glover breaks through at US Open

Source: Agencies | June 24, 2009, Wednesday | Print Edition

A VORACIOUS reader, Lucas Glover took a moment to scan the names etched on the walls of the US Open trophy.

From Hagen to Sarazen, Jones to Hogan, Palmer to Trevino and Nicklaus to Woods, Glover couldn't put the glistening silver chalice down. The last name on the list, improbably, is his, a permanent tribute to his win at the 109th US Open on Monday, after a grueling week at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.

"I hope I don't downgrade it or anything with my name on there," Glover, 29, quipped. "It's an honor, and I'm just excited and happy as I can be to be here."

Glover's perfectly timed birdie at the par-four 16th sealed his two-stroke victory over Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ricky Barnes. Glover finished at four-under 276 for the long, damp, oft-delayed week, getting just the second win of his career.

He was on the right side of the draw, weather-wise, for the first two rounds, opening with a 69 and then shooting a second-round 64 in rare scoring conditions for a US Open. Glover didn't break par the rest of the way, shooting 70 in the third round and then closing with a 73 on Monday.

So many storylines unfolded during the final round of the Open. There was Duval, who started the day ranked No. 882 in the world, looking for his first win in eight years. There was Barnes, who'll go down in history as the fourth player to reach double-digits below par in the US Open, wasting a huge lead with a bogey barrage that doomed his chances.

And then there was Mickelson, looking for something that would have been pure Hollywood.

Amy, his wife, will begin breast cancer treatment next month. Mickelson won't play any golf for a while, so his wife sent him to this tournament asking for a truly one-of-a-kind vase for her upcoming hospital stay: A big trophy with curved handles and a little statuette on top.

He almost pulled it off, too. He tied Glover for the lead after an eagle at the par-five 13th, but two bogeys coming in left Mickelson tied for second at the US Open for a record fifth time.

"Maybe it's more in perspective for me, because I feel different this time," Mickelson said. "I don't know where to go with this, because I want to win this tournament badly."

Tiger Woods was 15 shots back in the third round. For the first time in five years, he isn't the reigning champion at any of the majors.

He was four shots back with four holes to play after a birdie at No. 14, but the "Can he do this?" chatter ended quickly. Woods hit a five-iron over the 15th green to make bogey, and had to settle for a 69 that left him in a tie for sixth, four shots off Glover, who's only win, until now, came when he holed out a bunker shot on the final hole at Disney nearly five years ago.
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