22
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2009
PGA
4.
Lucas Glover clinches the U.S. Open title
BY TIM REYNOLDS
Associated Press
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — A voracious reader, Lucas Glover took a moment to scan the names etched on the walls of the U.S. Open trophy.
Talk about a great ending.
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, improbable as this seemed a week ago, is now his, a permanent tribute for enduring a grueling week at Bethpage Black better than anyone else.
Glover won the 109th U.S. Open on Monday afternoon, one perfectly timed birdie at the par-4 16th helping seal his two-stroke victory over Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ricky Barnes. Glover finished at 4-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
"I held it together and that's important," Glover said. "The patience thing, I've been preaching all week to myself and you guys and everybody else here that asked me what I'm feeling, it paid off"
rounds, opening with a 69 and then shooting a second-round 64 in rare scoring conditions for a U.S. 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.
It was good enough, and then some.
Tiger Woods was 15 shots back in the third round on Sunday. Somehow, he found himself bidding for major No. 15 on Monday.
It didn't happen, and for the first time in five years, he isn't the reigning champion at any of the majors.
Woods was four shots back with four holes to play after a birdie at No. 14, and the 'Can he do this?' chatter ended quickly from there. He hit a 5-iron over the 15th green to make bogey, and had to settle for a 69 that
"I striped it this week," Woods said. "I hit it just like I did at Memorial, and unfortunately, I didn't make anything."
left him in a tie for sixth, four shots back of Glover.
Glover only made one big putt, and that was enough.
He's got an everyman vibe, a tobacco-chewing, Sinatra-listening 29-year-old from South Carolina who says he tries to be nice to everyone so they can be nice to him. His only win, until now, came when he holed out a bunker shot on the final hole at the Disney Classic nearly five years ago.
Glover hit two perfect shots into No. 16 on Monday, then made the birdie that came almost at the same instant Duval made bogey at the par-3 17th, the two-shot swing that proved to be the difference.
An hour later, the trophy was his.
"I hope I don't downgrade it or anything with my name on there," Glover said. "It's an honor, and I'm just excited and happy as I can be to be on here."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lucas Glover holds his trophy after winning the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y. June 22.