Despite unusual start, U.S. Open ended in typical fashion

With long rain delays, stops and starts, low scores and a five-day schedule, this U.S. Open was different than most. But even the atypical week couldn't avoid the inevitability of a typical U.S. Open finish.

Mike McAllister, Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- Did the people get what they wanted in The People's Open? Or did the people merely get a series of rain storms and muddy walkways, along with a dose of southern hospitality in the form of a South Carolina champion named Lucas Glover of whom most know little about?

The Phil Mickelson fans -- and there are so many here in New York that he's treated more like a sports franchise than a mere human, with chants of "LET'S GO, MICK-EL-SON!" reverberating throughout Bethpage Black like it was the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium -- certainly were teased before ultimately being disappointed. Again.

Mickelson made his move Monday, even shared the lead on the back nine when he eagled the par-5 13th hole. A glorious story was being written, a Hollywood ending to be sure, what with wife Amy soon to start her breast cancer treatment while Phil tried to fulfill her wish of that long sought-after U.S. Open title. "That eagle put me right in position," he said.

In the end, though, it was the same ol' ending for Mickelson, another second-place finish thanks to two bogeys in his last four holes. But unlike three years ago at Winged Foot, disappointment did not produce any self-declarations of "idiot" this time. "I feel different this time," Mickelson said, not having to explain the reality his family now faces.

The Tiger Woods fans -- there might be a few out there -- also were teased on a couple of occasions Monday. Despite starting the day seven shots back, the defending champion seemed poised to at least post a number after consecutive birdies at Nos. 13 and 14 left him within three shots of the leaders, who were tumbling back to the pack. But with no room for error, Woods gave away a stroke when he hit a 5-iron too strong at the tough par-4 15th, played too conservatively out of the rough and then hit a poor putt.

Some might point to Woods getting the wrong end of the draw as an explanation for coming up short, but the wet conditions likely were a bigger factor. Of course, it didn't hurt him seven years ago when he won after Bethpage Black saw second-round rain, but seeing tees moved up this week probably did not play to his strengths.

"We have yet to play it hard and fast the two years we've played," Woods said, somewhat wistfully. "... This golf course would play so differently."  

The David Duval fans -- and they grew greatly in numbers this week, the former No. 1 player in the world putting together the unlikeliest of riches-to-rags-to-riches story -- were tasting victory too. Duval overcame a triple-bogey to open his day, splicing together three consecutive birdies on the back nine to climb within a stroke of the lead. His character had been tested, just like it's been tested for the last seven years as he descending to No. 882 in the Official World Golf Ranking, and Duval had answered.

If Mickelson couldn't complete the feel-good story of the year, here was the next best thing, staring us right in the face. David Duval winning the U.S. Open? Talk about partying like it's 1999.

Alas, just like with Mickelson, the momentum disappeared for Duval when he bogeyed the par-3 17th. Still, perhaps we should take Duval at his word now that his game is back on track, that he's a top-10er again, just like he's telling us. Now he has the results -- his best finish in eight years -- to back it up.

"It may be arrogance," he said, "but it's where I feel I belong."

The Ricky Barnes fans -- who may not have even been fans a week ago but succumbed to the allure of the one-time U.S. Amateur champion who had yet to match that promise since turning professional -- likely watched their man's final round with their eyes covered. Barnes, who set a U.S. Open 36-hole record low by getting to 8 under and became just the fourth player to ever reach double-digits under par at this event, quickly felt the pressure and dropped off the pace with four consecutive bogeys. Yet he was still a factor down the stretch, regaining his composure and putting on the last hole with the possibility that he might force a playoff.

That didn't happen, either, of course.

You see, in the end, the U.S. Open story tends to end the same way. Which player is steadiest when the pressure reaches its highest point? Which player can make a key shot, maintain his composure, avoid any stumbles and allow his competitors to simply wilt away? Not even a tournament as off-kilter as this one, with its rain delays, its stops and starts, its un-Open-like low scores and its five-day schedule can avoid the inevitability of a typical U.S. Open finish.

Glover played steady-as-you-go golf on the back nine Monday, the kind of golf that may not be exciting but is certainly effective in this environment. Others were more spectacular down the stretch, but benefiting from his terrific play earlier in the tournament -- he did shoot a second-round 64, after all -- Glover could play the composed leader instead of the chaser. He bounced back from a bogey on the 15th (not an unfamiliar consequence for any player this week; it's the toughest hole on the course) for his only birdie of the round at the 16th. It ultimately proved the difference.

And so during the trophy ceremony, while Mickelson, Duval and Barnes were trying to decide which one of them would receive the one silver medal available for the second-place finisher -- "I got four. I'm plenty good," Mickelson said in gracious humor -- Glover starting thinking about the trophy he'd receive, the one that Mickelson doesn't have, but one that includes names such as Nicklaus, Hogan, Jones and Woods.

"I hope I don't downgrade it or anything with my name on there," the ever-so-humble Glover said.

Don't worry, Lucas. You may not be getting a parade down Fifth Avenue this week, but you're the newest national champion and you earned it during a week that rattled nerves and routines.
 
And maybe that's why the people got what they want, even if they didn't really know it yet.