Low-key Lucas Glover lived up to his late coach’s expectations and won the 109th US Open on Monday, fighting off nerves, impatience and more tested rivals to claim a shocking Major title.
The 29-year-old American sank a tense five-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole, the only birdie in his final 20 holes, and parred in for a three-over par 73 to finish 72 holes on four-under par 276 and win by two strokes.
”I would be lying to say I wasn’t nervous,” Glover said. ”I had the knees knocking pretty good on 16, 17 and 18 but I pulled it off and executed some pretty good golf shots.”
Glover had been coached by the late Dick Harmon, the son of 1948 Masters champion Claude Harmon and brother of 14-time Major winner Tiger Woods’ former swing coach Butch Harmon.
”I think about him every day,” Glover said of his former mentor. ”He always told me I was good enough.”
Glover proved his former mentor correct for an unlikely triumph. He had not won since the 2005 Disney Classic, and even that came when he holed out from a bunker on the last hole, and was never better than 20th in 11 prior Majors.
”I’m happy and excited and honoured,” Glover said. ”I get to play in some cool tournaments for a while, so that’s fun.”
Glover never considered himself an underachiever in six PGA seasons despite a lack of victories.
”There’s early bloomers, late bloomers and always-bloomers in Tiger’s case,” Glover said.
”I’ve had a nice career. I haven’t won many golf tournaments but I’ve played well. Every week you want to win but nothing is guaranteed. So maybe this will be the springboard. Who knows?”
Glover stressed patience, although he admits it’s not in his nature. He said that a few years ago, a bogey-double bogey-bogey run such as he had on holes six to eight in the third round would have spelled the end of his chances.
”I’ve had to learn that in the last few years,” Glover said. ”Two years ago if [that] would have happened, no chance I would be sitting here. No chance.
”But I’ve worked on it. And my attitude is better. Something bad happens I let it go. I doubled the first hole this week. Didn’t slam a club. Didn’t do anything. Walked over to the second tee. It’s the US Open. It’s a long week.
”I wouldn’t have done that a couple years ago.”
Expectations of an emotional celebration on the 18th green when Glover won were squelched by the endurance test of a five-day marathon US Open trial that was disrupted by heavy showers Thursday and Saturday.
At the end, Glover just didn’t have the strength for it.
”I don’t know if I have enough energy to do anything crazy,” he said. ”It was a long and crazy week with the delays and the weather.
”That was the first time I’ve contended in a Major. Mentally I was done. I don’t think I could have thought up a good celebration.” — AFP
