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Coming Out Party for a Southern Gentleman
Monday, June 22, 2009
The storyline was set for Lefty but by the time the mud settled at Bethpage Black journeyman and Southern gentleman Lucas Glover stepped in to grab the U.S. Open title.
The great players execute at crunch time and for the South Carolinian his performance over the final three holes was something to behold. A gorgeous iron into 16 then rolling it dead center for birdie gave Glover a two stroke advantage with two to play.
The winner of just one tournament would then close the door by hitting each shot where he had to, closing with two final pars to earn the title over fellow journeyman Ricky Barnes, the resurgent David Duval, and fan-favorite Mickelson.
Lefty would make a charge, his incredible eagle at 13 drawing him even with Glover at four under. Mickelson was all over the flag with his approach from about 230 yards out.Later, when Glover missed a birdie putt on the 12th hole you had a sense it just might be Phil's for the taking. But just as he did at Augusta, after making his run, Lefty stubbed his toes, a bogey at 15 and another at 17 his undoing.
For Mickelson it was his fifth second place finish without a title at the U.S. Open.
Like Phil, Tiger Woods also had to be disappointed. For the game's best, it was a frustrating week with the putter, a total of 120 strokes in all.
And though he managed to tie for sixth, Woods never really got into contention after his uncharacteristic stumble in round one when he finished double-bogey, bogey, par, and bogey. Four over on the last four holes only to lose by four, well the math is easy to do.
For Duval, the 882nd ranked player in the world, it was his best finish since winning the British in 2001. Once the game's topped ranked player, Duval has been insisting his game is getting close to old form and he proved it with a solid performance over five long days at Bethpage.
With his win, Glover also took home a five-year exemption on the PGA TOUR. The presentation of the trophy by the USGA revealed why so many call Glover one of the classiest of Tour players, his incredible humility a breath of fresh air.
Foreign Noises: Rory McIlroy shot 68 in the final round to finish at 2 over in his U.S. Open debut. By finishing tenth the young Irishman qualified for next year's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. With five top tens now on the year McIlroy has he sights on the British Open next month. And 28-year-old Englishman Ross Fisher demonstrated why he is currently ranked fourth on the European Tour. He finished alone in fifth at Bethpage after posting four steady rounds, 70-68-69-72, becoming the only other player in red figures over the five days.
Flickr photo courtesy of Jeff Wallen.
11:14 AM
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