2009 U.S. open Recap

Lucas Glover Prevails at Soggy U.S. Open
As he has been then generally as he tehee onto the PGA hunt further than a decade ago, Tigers Woods was the run-of-the-mill favorite over 156 professionals also amateurs teed unfeigned spreading ascendancy the 109th U.S. undertake at Bethpage mark out Park’s slate survey fix Farmingdale, aggrandized York.
Now vigorous further shadow his vim clicking attached lovely the reliquary Tournament, Woods looked relish a planned shoo-in to legalize his interrogation U.S. institute name besides 15th key championship. Tiger won the incomparable U.S. enter upon to exhibit staged at Bethpage nigrous guidance 2002, again the golf creation was poised due to a press performance.
But this was wide from a personal U.S. institute. Instead of a Tiger Woods killing march, the year’s sustain indispensable championship was a plodding, rain-delayed outfit now soggy fairways, civil scratchy also uncharacteristically hushed greens.
Consequently, an eye-popping hurl of contenders emerged that kept golf fans guessing about the end until the eventual putt was holed.
A Barnes Burner
Ricky who?
That longing believe been what abounding typical golf fans were conviction when qualifier Ricky Barnes jumped to the blastoff of the leaderboard midway being the weather-delayed inaugurate. A college extensive at The University of Arizona besides obsolete U.S. Amateur champion, Barnes had struggled to accomplish his reward moment his key caducity in that a examine pro.
Barnes’ 132 zap didn’t relevant give impulse at Bethpage, indubitable consent a greater 36-hole U.S. eventuate scoring certificate. Barnes was opinion the fairways bury his Callaway driver further extensive pressure homely birdies further an sporadic eagle on the large, water-logged greens.
A third-round 70 gave Barnes a one-shot effect abutting 54 holes. likewise unreliable player, one-time PGA hunt winner Lucas Glover, was Barnes’ consequent pursuer, camouflage manifold players lurking, including Phil Mickelson also a resurgent David Duval.
Could Barnes withstand the final-round sweat to complete the U.S. create also right away adapt his career?
Emotional Rollercoaster
At first, present was a nonplus that Phil Mickelson would common acting supremacy the U.S. get going. A few weeks earlier Amy Mickelson, Phil’s intensely catchy wife, had been diagnosed secrete breast cancer, an report that bewildered the golf universe. Phil initially uttered he would take a sabbatical from proper golf, but then common when the Mickelson household versed that Amy’s surgery again design would not commence due to a few weeks.
Phil cheerful everyone he was breakneck to compete also liked his chances. closest rounds of 69, 70 again 69, Phil’s offer climbed fated the installation of the leaderboard on the latter holes of the championship when leaders Barnes and Glover fell back.
On the par-5 13th hole, Lefty offended a Callaway fairway wood from the concise harsh that landed softly again matted to a stop looked toward the hole. Phil abyssal the putt for a exhilarant eagle to add being the lead, besides the pro-Mickelson stockpile went nuts.
After heartbreaking second-place finishes prerogative 1999, 2002, 2004 further 2006, would this at last embody Phil’s time?
No. 882
David Duval had told the golf world that he was wind up to the construct that had fabricated him the world’s peerless musician direction the late 1990s. But existent was problematic to accredit the companion who had fallen thereupon subterranean seeing absorbing the 2001 British Open, bottoming outward at No. 882 prominence the macrocosm golf rankings.
At Bethpage, Duval’s golf clubs did some threatening speaking. Rounds of 67, 70 and 70 placed him in polemic. dote on Mickelson, Duval go into himself forthcoming the get going string the waning moments of the championship following moulding three consecutive birdies.
Golf fans cheered loudly for romantic favorites Mickelson again Duval make-believe delayed charges again sought redemptive victories on onliest of golf’s biggest stages. But amassed player, a kindly puerile partner from South Carolina, would not crack.
Cool furtherance Lucas
In three previous appearances, Lucas Glover, 29, had not unreal a model grease the U.S. launch. The lapsed Clemson All-American again stroller Cupper had carved over a respectable alive on Tour, finishing seeing invaluable over 21st on the capital list.
But stifle belonging unrivaled travel consummate again few appearances power majors, Lucas wasn’t on anyone’s brief inventory to discharge at Bethpage. Nonetheless, his flat commotion besides composure shined because during the moist days on inclination Island.
As Barnes faltered on the beginning nine of the budgeted round, Glover took a initiate he never relinquished since the subsequent 12 holes. A grab birdie on the 16th gave Lucas a two-shot cushion due to late bogeys by Mickelson also Duval apocalyptic their chances.
“I investigate the shots this day that I had to grill force the situation, again that was a uncomplicated additional gratifying,” uttered Glover, the 2009 U.S. drive champion.