Lucas Who … ?

The 109th US Open from Bethpage Black ,the public link’s course at Farmingdale , New York ,finally reached its culmination. And surprise , surprise the winner was none other than Lucas Glover. Lucas who you might say ? And that’s the question I’m now beginning to ask myself.

Lucas Glover winner of the US Open held at the public links' course at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale , upper state New York. picture appears courtesy of getty images / Clive Robertson ..........

And along with the win comes golfing immortality as this’ll be championship that can never be taken away from the player. His four under (-4) par win by two strokes over second placed finisher Phil Mickelson, might well have been what the doctor ordered in terms of the dreariness of the weather provided over the almost five days of competition. Also tied for second were first through third round leader Ricky Barnes. Whose meltdown over the final round was seemingly how one’d envisage a nightmare of disastrous proportions. Literally going from a four stroke lead and having your first Grand Slam major seemingly almost within your grasp. Overnight, Barnes let his chance slip .

Tied for second David Duval hold his young son Brayden during the trophy presentations for the US Open golf tournament. Duval wasn't able to overcome a two shot deficit in order to force a playoff. picture appears courtesy of getty images / Chris McGrath ...........

And rounding out the second place finishers is a name long forgotten but who suddenly appeared atop of the leaderboard. For David Duval this was a triumphant return to the major golf scene. Wherein for almost the last decade he’s had his ups and down professionally within the sport. And where his private life also had its own share of turmoil.

Glover celebrates his victory alongside NBC's Bob Costas after his 2 stroke victory of the US Open at the Bethpace Black golf course. picture appears courtesy of getty images / Ross Kinnaird ....................

And whilst Mickelson may well have been the emotional favorite to win the tournament down the stretch. Alas, this was not to be . With Tiger Woods also pressing his claim for a share of the championship , seemingly trying to ignite himself and the sparse crowd in attendance with that sense of urgency and a last minute charge. The winner of the tournament would be a first time claimant of a major Grand Slam golf title. And along with that win comes the prize money of $ 1,350,000-00 for the winner. Not bad for roughly four and a half days’ work.

Phil Mickelson reacts after his putt inches towards the hole on the 16th green during the final round of the US Open . Mickelson would finish in a tie for second place at (-2) two under par for the tournament. He was as such the sentimental favorite to win the tournament given the emotional turmoil he'd been under. picture appears courtesyb of getty images/ Andrew Reddington ................

And for Woods this was another case of what might’ve been. Had he performed better in the earlier rounds. Albeit that he finished in a tie for sixth place alongside Swede , Soren Hansen. This was in effect something of a dramatic way to end a tournament that seemingly was just waiting to anoint an almost reluctant Ricy Barnes. Instead in his place it’s Lucas Glover who lives to tell the tale of the infamy of Bethpage Black. A public links’ golf course that can seemingly sap the strength mentally and presence of even the most skilled of professional golfers on the PGA Tour.

A somewhat forlorn Tiger Woods looks on from the fourteenth tee during the final round of the US Open from the public link's course at Bethpage Black State Park , Farmingdale , New York. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Ross Kinnaird .................

And now with the first two majors of the season over. It’s now on The Open from the Turnberry Links Golf Course in Turnberry,Ayrshire , Scotland. The ancestral home of the game of golf and where the game itself was invented. This is the one major considered to be the most difficult to win of all. And it is considered still the most prestigious professional golf tournament in the world . An argument can be made that to win The Open , is to win the world championship of golf. Were there such an accolade befitting the sport to begin with. Then one might attest to the fact that the event itself is the pre-eminent tournament of its kind in the world. It has the history and the feats of excellence that has gone with it over the years. But more so the fans in attendance may well just be about the most knowledgeable there is that the game has to offer.

Glover poses for the photographers having won the 109th edition of the US Open golf tournament. The next major on the calendar is The Open in the United Kingdom. picture appears courtesy of getty images /Ross Kinnaird ......................

For Glover this win opens a lot of doors in terms of opportunities. And with it comes an exemption to play in all of the four major golf tournaments for the next decade. And also has to bear in mind the endorsement opportunities that’ll no doubt come his way. He’ll no longer be viewed as something of a journeyman on the PGA Tour. As fans and his peers alike will be saying ‘…. there goes Lucas Glover he’s a Grand Slam major winner’. So few players are afforded the opportunity each year of saying that they’re the winner of a Grand Slam major. And with there being only four opportunities that come by each year in terms of The Masters , the U S Open, The Open and the PGA Championship. It has to be said that it does take a special breed of player to win one the Grand Slam events.

Glover now joins the ranks of those and if he should never have the chance again to win another major. At least he knows that his name has now been etched on a trophy for prosperity and that it’ll never be taken away from him at all.

As to what surprises may or may not lie ahead for the next two majors. No one can really say. But it’s a fair bet that those who’ve entered will be of the opinion that they’ve got the same sort of shot as Glover to have their own name etched on a Grand Slam trophy.

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