Major Rain ‘Glove’s

As the 2009 US Open approached most people were very interested in how some of the changes made to the fabled Bethpage Black Course would affect the players. What was unforeseen was whether the weather would dominate the Black Course. With all the focus coming into the week on Tiger Woods pursuit of Major #15 and Phil Mickelson’s endless focus on winning an Open in front of a raucous Long Island crowd that could even carry him thru the week; what flew under the radar was a long shot champ and an epic story. Although the two favorites never really went away in the final round, it wasn’t your normal Monday finish at a US Open.

The real story of the week was the rain that suspended play for almost the entire first round of the championship and what will be seen for a lot of people as the luck of the draw. The players that were in the Thursday morning and Friday afternoon draw, i.e. Tiger Woods, were subject to awful conditions for both of their first and second rounds, while the other wave, i.e. Phil Mickelson, enjoyed a sunny soggy Bethpage to fire darts at! When the cut was finally made on Saturday afternoon a very unanticipated twosome from the second wave were paired in the final grouping – once a winner on tour Lucas Glover and former US Amateur Champion Ricky Barnes.

As the pairing made their way thru the hills of the Long Island New York State Park on Sunday (the tournaments 3rd round), it seemed to be a two horse race between Barnes and Glover. Although at one point in time Ricky had gotten it to a scorching 11-under par, but a few loose swings and a short miss on the 18th green lead to his matching of Glover’s even par 70 and still only a one shot lead. Mickelson was still within eyeshot at six shots back while Tiger was still a thought in people’s minds back eight shots of two inexperienced front runners.

Although many felt as if Barnes and Glover were stories enough, there was a lurking story that began to intrigue the New York gallery. One time World’s #1 and current 800+ ranked David Duval was in contention. Although robotic and almost standoffish when he was in his prime, this new look less fit more acknowledging Duval really started to win the crowd over as he entered the final round only five shots back of Barnes. Duval had cashed in one major in his prime, an Open Championship at Royal Lytham St. Anne’s, but an opportunity to cash in again so unexpectedly years and injuries later (i.e. back, wrist, vertigo), got the crowd even more excited.

As the final round began and Barnes began to hemorrhage shots early and often, the leaderboard started to become crowded. Glover, Barnes, Lefty, Duval, Mahan, Fisher and even Tiger were all still in the picture. Woods posted an early even par 280, but most knew it would be a few short. As the rest carved their way thru the back nine there was an unmistakable roar from the 13th green! Yes, just as the New Yorkers hoped Phil stuck a shot onto the par 5 green in two and sunk the subsequent 8 footer for eagle to tie him with Glover at the time for the lead. But as Lefty tends to do he was not able to take advantage 14or 18 and mixed in a bogeys at 15 and 17 to falter.

After a rather blah day, Duval also made some noise on the inward nine birdying 14, 15 and 16 to get himself at one point in a tie for the lead with Glover at 3-under par. But a fatal lip-out on the 17th green and a birdie by Glover on the 16th lead to a quick two shot swing between those two and Barnes. Duval posted a -2 278 after paring the 18th. Barnes burned the edge on a 15ft birdie putt and Glover was able to sink a less pressure packed five foot roller to secure his first major title.

And after a tumultuous week of weather delays and no sleep, the native South Carolinian Glover stood upon that overcast afternoon on the 18th green at Bethpage Black holding up the trophy to his national championship. He is now a major winner – and as for that newly granted invite to Augusta…

Let’s just say it fits like a “Glove!”