Golf FanHouse

Ranking the Major Championships

Ryan Wilson — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: British Open, PGA, US Open, Masters, PGA Championship

Tiger Woods won five times in 2009, but for the fourth time in his 13-year career, he was shutout in the majors. That may not be cause for concern for Woods, but it gives fans and the media something to talk about. It also makes the "How would you rank the major championships?" question a lot more interesting.

With only one tournament left on the PGA Tour calender, now seems like as good a time as any to make my case. Obviously, this will be a scientifically rigorous endeavor, and I hope that you would treat the results accordingly. Or don't. Whatever, let's get to it.

In reverse order, the most exciting majors of 2009:

4. U.S. Open, Bethpage Black

Woods won this event in 2002, the last time it was at Bethpage, and there were any number of attractive story lines for the week: Tiger because, well, he's Tiger; New York golf fans' love affair with Phil Mickelson; and the endless heckling by those same fans of a gripping and re-gripping Sergio Garcia.

Seven years later and Tiger was still the most important player in the field, Phil was still looking for his first U.S. Open victory (more than that, he was playing with the knowledge that his wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer the month before),and Sergio had lost the interminable pre-shot routine but had gained the title of Best Player to Never Win a Major.

Yet despite the potential for intriguing subplots to play themselves out, the weather became the story. The first round was postponed and the tournament didn't finish until Monday afternoon. Oh, and Lucas Glover won the thing. That's not to say he didn't deserve it -- he did because he was able to hold it together down the stretch while Phil, Ricky Barnes and David Duval faltered. It's just that the constant downpours interrupted any rhythm a typical tournament develops as it builds to a (climatic, hopefully) Sunday finish.

So I'm blaming this one on Mother Nature.

3. PGA Championship, Hazeltine

I'll be honest: I would have ranked this event lower than fourth had Woods held on to win Sunday. It's not that his March to 19 isn't the biggest story in golf four times a year, it's just that Tiger has so mastered this game that it's hard to get too worked up by his latest "no way that just happened" moment.

And unlike the 2000 U.S. Open where he blew the doors off the rest of the field, or the 2000 PGA where he outlasted little-known Bob May in a playoff, or even last year's U.S. Open when Woods peg-legged his away around Torrey Pines for 91 holes, the '09 PGA was, well, boring.

Woods was atop the leaderboard for the first three days, and after a Thursday 67, he did just enough to maintain the lead for the next 36 holes in the most unexciting manner possible. It didn't affect ratings -- people will tune in just to make sure they didn't miss something previously thought impossible -- but that didn't make it any more watchable after the fact.

And then Sunday happened, Y.E. Yang merrily made his way around the course oblivious to what he was in the midst of. To prove that point, on the 72nd hole, he smoked his hybrid approach shot from more than 200 yards to 10 feet before draining a birdie putt for good measure.

You might argue that Yang's outta-nowhere performance should elevate the PGA to a first- or second-place ranking here. I'd agree except for this: Tiger didn't even put up a fight. He finished bogey-bogey and spent much of the final 54 holes trying to stay out of his own way. Now if he had mixed in a few snowmen on his way to the clubhouse and played himself off the first page of the leaderboard in spectacular fashion, I'd reconsider.

2. The Masters, Augusta National

This was Kenny Perry's tourney to win. He led by two strokes with two holes to play, but finished bogey-bogey. Instead of Trevor Immelman helping him slip into a green jacket, Perry found himself in a playoff with Chad Campbell and Angel Cabrera. And two years after holding off Tiger and Jim Furyk at the U.S. Open at Oakmont, El Pato, against a different cast of characters, did it again at Augusta National.

The only thing more startling than Perry's late-Sunday collapse was how Cabrera's final round began. He spun his wheels early, going out in 1-over par. He then bogeyed No. 10 before carding three birdies on his final six holes.

If Cabrera's win was of the slow-motion, come-from-behind variety, Perry's loss was the opposite. It happened in an instant, and everybody -- including Perry -- knew it was over when he flubbed a chip on the 71st hole and couldn't get up and down on the 72nd. Sure, he still had the playoff, but as he stood on the tee box you sensed that he already knew his fate.

It made for slightly more captivating television than, say, Tiger pouting his way around Hazeltine while Yang methodically dismantled him.

1. British Open, Turnberry

I have no idea what the bylaws stipulate in terms of who qualifies for the PGA Tour Player of the Year, but if 59-year-old Tom Watson had won the British Open they should have given him the award on the spot. I'm not one for "instant history." In general, I like to take the long view when comparing amazing feats across eras. But I feel safe in writing that if Watson had somehow found a way -- just once -- to make an eight-footer when it mattered, I'd be the conductor on the "This is the most remarkable story of in recent memory" train.

And that includes Tiger's U.S. Open performance last summer. (Before you get all huffy, Watson didn't win so I don't have to argue that point. Which means that neither do you.)

But Watson missed the putt and headed to a four-hole playoff against Stewart Cink who, judging by the crowd, had exactly three fans on the property, all family members. (I should back up and mention that Watson has won five Open Championships in his career, including 1977, at Turnberry. Scotland has adopted him as one of their own.)

Still, Cink prevailed. Decisively. In fact, the old-timer charged with engraving the Claret Jug after the winner is determined got to work shortly after the two players teed off. On the first playoff hole, Watson hacked his way to a bogey while Cink made par, and the next three holes were an extended victory march. (Or farewell tour, depending on your perspective.)

The notion that a guy nearing his sixth decade on this planet almost pulled off the impossible against players half his age led to the predictable "golf isn't a real sport" vapidity. Call it what you want, but for me it's what makes golf great. I mean, prior to last week, I'm pretty sure nobody had Y.E. Yang staring down Tiger. It's the unpredictability that makes it compelling, that's the point.

Ranking the Major Championships originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Major Championship Disappointments

Shane Bacon — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: British Open, US Open, Masters, PGA Championship

With the 2009 British Open in our rear view, a lot of talk is about what could have been. A 59-year-old man had a chance to win a major championship against the best golfers in the world, and was one swing away from doing so. So, where does this tournament rank in major championship disappointments? Take a look and see ...

Ken Venturi's 80 at the 1956 Masters -- Before Kenneth Venturi made a name for himself as golf broadcaster, he was a pretty good stick. Good enough that, in 1956, as an amateur, Venturi found himself leading the Masters by four shots heading into the final round. Venturi would eventually shot 80 on Sunday, missing out on a chance to become the only amateur ever to win the Masters. Jack Burke Jr. claimed the green jacket that year, coming back from eight shots on the final day.

Arnold Palmer's 1966 U.S. Open Collapse -- The year was 1966, and the King was going through his longest drought without a major since his first win, at the '58 Masters. After a tie for fourth at the '66 Masters, Palmer went to the Olympic Club in hopes of claiming his second U.S. Open title. Seven shots up with nine holes to go at the majestic San Francisco course, Palmer faltered, leading to an 18-hole playoff that was eventually won by Billy Casper. Palmer never won another major championship.

Tom Watson's Miss at Career Grand Slam -- Watson has won eight major championships, but never a PGA Championship. That could have been erased in 1978, when he took a four-shot lead into the final round at Oakmont, only to shoot a 2-over 73 and find himself in a three-man playoff. John Mahaffey ended up with the Wanamaker Trophy, and still holds the record for biggest comeback in PGA Championship history.

Greg Norman's 1996 Masters -- Sometimes, a picture can say everything you need to know about that fateful Sunday at Augusta, and here it is. Up six shots with 18 holes to go at the Masters, Norman looked like he'd finally break through at a tournament he'd finished in the top seven times prior. The Shark ended up shooting a final round 78 to lose to Nick Faldo by five shots. Not only was this my first golf memory as a kid, but watching him collapse was one of the tougher things any golf fan has ever watched.

Jean Van de Velde -- Not a lot of sports moments can make you think directly to that time by just the person's name -- Billy Buckner. Steve Bartman. David Tyree. Jean Van de Velde is the golf version. The 1999 British Open had everything you'd ever want in an epic collapse, including a playoff you knew wouldn't be won by the victim. Up three shots on the field after basically dominating the toughest golf course in the world, the unknown Frenchman stood on the 18th tee at Carnoustie with a golfer's dream -- a double-bogey to win the Claret Jug.

You know what happened next. Van de Velde decided to pull driver off the tee, pushing it 30 yards right of the fairway. Instead of chipping out into the fairway, Van de Velde, who appeared to have killed his caddie, decided to go for the green. I've played Carnoustie. The only hole tougher than 18 in Scotland is the 17th. Nobody in their right mind would ever do any of this. His second shot hit the grandstands, bounced off some bricks around the Barry Burn, and ended up in the rough. On his third shot, Van de Velde tried to hit it out the rough, only to find the burn.

The lasting image came next, as Van de Velde rolled up his pants, took off his shoes and looked like he might try to hit the half-submerged golf ball. He eventually took a drop, hitting his fifth shot into a bunker. Needed to get up and down just to make the playoff, Van de Velde hit out of the bunker to eight feet and somehow, heroically, made the putt. That was all for naught, as he lost in the playoff to Paul Lawrie.

Just typing all that out makes me feel bad for the guy, who famously said after, "Maybe next time I'll hit the wedge," he said. "And maybe you will all forgive me."

Phil Mickelson at Winged Foot -- It looked like we were well on our way to the Lefty Slam back in 2006, when Mickelson arrived at Winged Foot. Fresh off his second Masters victory and second consecutive major championship, Lefty had his game together. Rounds of 70-73-69 were good enough for a share of the lead heading into the final round, where Mickelson would be paired with Kenneth Ferrie.

Lefty made three birdies on Sunday, and was standing on the 18th tee with a one-shot lead, needing a par to tie and a bogey to win his first U.S. Open. Phil inexplicably hit a tee shot so far left off 18 that it caromed off a merchandise tent. If that wasn't bad enough, Mr. Gamble himself tried to hit a punch-cut long iron, only to catch a branch. Four shots later Phil was tapping in for double-bogey, famously saying after, "I am such an idiot."

Sergio Garcia, Carnoustie in 2007 -- From the start of the week at Carnoustie, Sergio Garcia looked like he'd be claiming that first major championship we had all expected for years. The Spaniard burst on our golf radar in 1999 at the PGA Championship, where he famously dueled with Tiger Woods only to eventually lose to his Swooshness.

Garcia had since struggled with the spotlight, but an opening round 65 at Carnoustie in '07 was music to golf fan's ears. Sergio continued to dominate the course some call Car-Nasty, making just three bogeys in his first 54 holes. Heading into the final round with a three-stroke lead, the tournament looked to be his.

On the front nine on Sunday, Sergio was downright nervous, make three bogeys in four holes before making up with consecutive birdies on 13 and 14. With Padraig Harrington making a move, Garcia needed to keep making pars, but a bogey on 15 looked like the end to Garcia's run. That was, until Padraig made a double-bogey on the 18th, leaving the door open for a Sergio par and the victory. Blaming just about everything but the Goodyear blimp, Garcia couldn't cash a 10-footer for par, losing in a playoff to Padraig. Also, Garcia took "being gracious in defeat" to an inexplicably low level.

Tom Watson at the '09 British -- It was the story that you're now probably sick of hearing. A 59-year-old past Open champion making a run at a course he made famous in 1977. A storybook moment for sure, Watson needed just a par on his final hole to take home his sixth Claret Jug.

Deciding between clubs, Watson picked the 8-iron, and as fate has it, was victim of the type of golf that he has always dominated. The shot landed on the green, but would never bite, bouncing over the green and leading to a three-putt bogey. Watson would eventually lose to Stewart Cink a playoff, having us all wonder, "What could have been?"

Major Championship Disappointments originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Golf Analyst Predicted Lucas Glover Would Win US Open

Ryan Wilson — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: British Open, PGA, US Open

This seems impossible: Bob Bubka, a radio golf analyst from Long Island, predicted on Ireland's Sportstalk Radio that Lucas Glover would win the U.S. Open. I'll be honest: I've never heard of Bubka, but apparently he's well known in degenerate gambling circles; his opinion was enough to move the odds from 175-1 to 11-8.

Still, Paddy Power, a legal bookmaker, reported losses of $1.6 million, citing a "betting frenzy" following Bubka's radio appearance. But unlike some people who just stared at the list of players in the U.S. Open field and randomly selected a name (see me, for example), Bubka actually knows what he's talking about.

Via Newsday:

Bubka, an East Hampton native who has covered the tour for years and now is known as the voice of World Golf Radio, said he has been kidded by buddies that he was a personal economic stimulus for bettors in Ireland.

He explained that one night early in the week, he had dinner with Butch Harmon, swing coach to Phil Mickelson and other pros. "Our discussions naturally got around to Dick Harmon, who was a good friend of mine," Bubka said about Butch's late brother, who had been Glover's mentor and close friend.

With Glover on his mind, Bubka sought out the golfer and his caddie on the Bethpage driving range the next day. Both men told the reporter that Glover had "found something" that worked during the Open qualifier. "I told him, 'If you found something, that's good enough for me,' " Bubka said.

Newsday adds that Bubka hasn't yet named his favorite for the British Open, but he did point out that he also liked Angel Cabrera to win the 2009 Masters. Which must come as a relief to Kenny Perry, who probably thought he was responsible for losing that tournament.

Via SbB

Golf Analyst Predicted Lucas Glover Would Win US Open originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ricky Barnes Continues to Play Well

Ryan Wilson — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: PGA, US Open

Kenny Perry was the story on Thursday at the Travelers Championship. He fired a first-round 61, good for 9-under and two shots clear of the field.

(Also, I have to mention how Bacon "Eddie Mush-ed" Perry midway through his back nine, sending me the following e-mail: "Kenny P is 8-under through 14 holes at the Travelers. Nobody has ever shot 59 on a par-70 course, but three more birds and Mr. Perry would be there." Shane also likes to remind pitchers that they're in the middle of a no-hitter. So, yeah, Perry didn't stand a chance.)

But he wasn't the only story of the day. Yesterday I wrote that Ricky Barnes, just off a second-place finish at the U.S. Open (on Saturday, he had a six-shot lead before finishing two back of Lucas Glover), was headed to the Travelers to build on his Bethpage coming out.

Since winning the U.S. Amateur in 2002, and turning pro in 2003, Barnes hasn't had much success. In fact, it took him five years to earn his PGA Tour card. And although he made seven of 13 cuts this season, prior to the Open, his best finish was T47. I finished by writing:

"... While a second-place finish in the biggest tournament in the United States doesn't necessarily portend success, golf is just as much about confidence as it is about execution."

And based on Barnes' play Thursday, I'd say his confidence continues to match his execution. He's 5-under, T8. He went out in 33, came in in 32, and carded five birdies and no bogeys.

It's obviously too early to claim he's on his way to a top-10 world ranking, major victories and Ryder Cup glory. He could put up a 78 tomorrow, miss the cut and slip back into anonymity. But it's a start, and a particularly impressive one following the mental and physical exhaustion that is U.S. Open week.

Ricky Barnes Continues to Play Well originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ricky Barnes Tries to Build on 2nd Place Finish at Bethpage Black

Ryan Wilson — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: PGA, US Open

Ricky Barnes finished in the top 25 on the Nationwide Tour money list last season, and for the first time in his then-five-year professional golf career, he had earned his PGA Tour card.

Success has been fleeting for the 2002 U.S. Amateur champion, who was also the low amateur at the 2003 Masters. From 2005-2008, Barnes competed in just five PGA Tour events as a professional, making two cuts. This year, he's played 13 tournaments, played on the weekend seven times, including a second-place finish at Bethpage Black last week (although prior to the U.S. Open, his best finish was a T47 at the St. Jude).

It's all about perspective, though, and if you had told Barnes he'd fire a 2-under par over five grueling rounds in soggy conditions, he would have gladly taken it. Of course, Early Saturday, he was sitting at 11-under, six shots clear of the field, setting the 36-hole Open scoring record. So what now?

For starters, Barnes' performance at Bethpage earned him almost $560,000, and a place in the '09 British Open, as well as the '10 Masters and U.S. Open. And more than that, he jumped from 519th to 153rd in the world rankings.

``I don't know if I made that many mental club errors or if I would have played it differently,'' said Barnes, only the fourth player in U.S. Open history to reach double digits under par and the third to fail to hold it. ``I just needed to hit better shots.'' ...

``I think if you don't take something out of even really good rounds and really bad rounds, then you're probably not suited for the game,'' he said. ``You probably learn more when you play bad than when you actually play good, because when you play good, nothing bothers you.''

If true, then Barnes may be ready for a breakthrough because he's struggled in limited appearances on the big tour. He'll be in Hartford, CT this week for the Travelers. He looked exhausted when he arrived at the course yesterday afternoon, but that's to be expected -- he just wrapped up the most intense week in his professional career.

And while a second-place finish in the biggest tournament in the United States doesn't necessarily portend success, golf is just as much about confidence as it is about execution. See David Duval, for example.

Ricky Barnes Tries to Build on 2nd Place Finish at Bethpage Black originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Making the Cut: Gloves On

Shane Bacon — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: PGA, US Open

Each Wednesday during the golf season, FanHouse will list the top five names in golf and why they're important. Did Barack play 18 with Tiger? Did a certain player do something controversial off the course? Or was just playing golf enough to get the pot stirring? Join us for a weekly feature we call Making the Cut.

5. Ana Ivanovic -- Yep, she plays tennis, but she also is wooing a golf heartthrob away from the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods. Adam Scott, who is to the PGA Tour what Erin Andrews is to sideline reporting, has said he will miss the AT&T to go watch Ivanovic at Wimbledon. The word is they're dating, but nothing has been confirmed. I guess here's hoping Ivanovic makes it long enough so that Scott can sport his Burberry on the hallowed tennis grounds.

4. David Booker -- Never heard of him, right? Well, he's the caddie for Lorena Ochoa who was on the bag for two of her majors and when she reached No. 1 in the world. He also got kicked to the curb this week for a more veteran caddie. Ochoa decided to pick up Greg Johnston on her bag, who has worked with Julie Inkster, Michelle Wie, Britanny Lincicome, Suzanne Pettersen and Angel Park. Babe Didrikson Zaharias seems to be the only big name not on his resume.

3. Ricky Barnes -- He's a big hitter who carries himself in the same way Tiger does and, although he didn't win the U.S. Open this week at Bethpage Black, he hung in there, winning almost as much in one week as he has in four years. Barnes lives and dies by the putter, but the confidence that finishes like this give you is underrated, so look for Ricky to be a factor over the next few months on the PGA Tour. He might not have the game to win a major championship just yet, but he does to win a regular tour event, so don't be surprised if this happens soon (like, for instance, the Travelers Championship).

2. Phil Mickelson -- His story nearly overshadowed the eventual winner at Bethpage Black, and for good reason. We talk a lot about Mickelson choking, but the guy was far from that this week, and he left with a smile on his face and a near-emotional win that would have rivaled Ben Crenshaw's victory at the '95 Masters. We probably won't see Mickelson swing a golf club for months, so it was good that he left with a bang. A couple of putts here, a chip or so there and we'd all still be gushing about how he pulled that out in the toughest of conditions. Bravo, Mr. Mickelson. We can't wait to have Amy healthy and you back on tour.

1. Lucas Glover -- Things Lucas Glover probably didn't expect when he got to Bethpage last week -- "In seven days, I'll be on David Letterman." The man that had only one victory on the PGA Tour steadied himself in the final round and picked up a piece of hardware he'll not soon forget. Glover's ability to drive the golf ball means he can be a factor at the U.S. Open in years to come (think Jim Furyk but longer), and his attitude and patience with the game is something to be praised. Glover was the best at Bethpage, and that is that.

Making the Cut: Gloves On originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lucas Glover Gives Top 10 on Letterman

Ryan Wilson — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: PGA, US Open

Lucas Glover was born in Greenville, SC, played golf at Clemson, just won his first major -- the 109th U.S. Open at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, NY -- and more surprising than that, perhaps, he's a Yankees fan.

So even though Glover grew up 750 miles south of the Big Apple, he loves the city and its Bronx-based baseball team. Alex Rodriguez appreciates the support.

On Tuesday, after outlasting the field -- and the weather -- over five days, Lucas was in New York City, making the rounds, and that included a stop at the Ed Sullivan Theatre to rattle off the Top Ten List. Hilarity ensued.

Moving pictures after the jump.

A couple thoughts: first, glad Lucas dressed up for the occasion. (And in case you were one of the nearly six billion people who missed his appearance on Regis & Kelly!, he was sporting the same get-up). Second, G. Lover is the new McLovin, but with better hair.

Seriously, despite the media's gnashing of teeth that Tiger didn't show up and is now on the downside of a great career (he finished T6 and he didn't make a putt all week -- some perspective would be nice), or that Ricky Barnes, or David Duval or Phil Mickelson squandered a chance to win the Open, Lucas actually did it.

On Letterman, he kidded that "Even I have never heard of me," but prior to Monday, Glover was definitely in the "best players to never win a major" conversation -- even if nobody had heard of him.

Which is sorta the point: for all the attention lavished on the young players, maybe we were focusing on the wrong guys. Yeah, Anthony Kim and Sean O'Hair deserve recognition, but it's not like Glover isn't in the same category. It's just that, for some reason, we haven't really paid attention. Until now. Because that's the pull Regis has, obviously.

Lucas Glover Gives Top 10 on Letterman originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bill Murray Does Spackler at Bethpage

Will Brinson — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Golf, US Open

Bill Murray is probably one of my five most favoritestest actors of all time. Sure, at his age, he's become a touch annoying, but he's starred in so many roles that I loved as a kid and then still into "adulthood" (it doesn't technically count if you're not mature, right?) that I'm willing to give him a pass. Besides, he routinely does stuff like this: busting out his Carl Spackler at Bethpage Black during a rain delay at the US Open. <3 u, Bill.

Bill Murray Does Spackler at Bethpage originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bethpage May Need to Rework No. 18 Before US Open Returns

Ryan Wilson — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:10:00 EST

Filed under: PGA, US Open

Other than deploying the squeegee brigade, there wasn't much Bethpage superintendent Craig Currier could do about the torrential rains last week. But if the U.S. Open is to return to the Black Course -- and there's no reason to think that it won't -- the USGA might have to do something about the finishing hole.

The 18th is listed as a 411-yard uphill par 4, and the fairway is one of the lowest point on the course. Which means that a downpour will leave the landing area for tee shots virtually unplayable. The USGA's workaround? Move up the tees.

On Sunday, before the third round resumed, the Daily News reported just that.

The hole measures 411yards, but the tee could be moved up so the hole could play 250 to 325 yards. It would turn the closing hole into a drivable par-4, and the wettest part of the fairway would not be in play. The decision likely will hinge on how much more rain falls.

"That would be an interesting way to finish a round," Geoff Ogilvy said. "It's getting quite wet down on the fairway, for sure, and it wouldn't take much more rain to put it under water. That would be a fun finish actually, fun for the fans."

In general, that's a fine solution, but this is the U.S. Open, billed the "toughest test in golf." I'm not sure a 300-something-yard hole to finish the round -- or the tournament -- conveys that message. On Monday, the 18th measured 354 yards, and according to Dan Jenkins' Tweet Machine, eventual winner Lucas Glover reached the green with a 6-iron/9-iron. That's sort of embarrassing.

Golf Digest's Geoff Shackelford offers a technical fix:

A restoration of the original Tillinghast-Burbeck bunker configuration would open the door to a much needed regrading. This could introduce new sandy soil and the novel concept of surface drainage. Because the pre-Jones hole featured intriguing strategy: bend it around the left bunkers and open up a nice angle into one of the more interesting greens on the course.

Another option: just skip the Black Course's 18th and use the adjacent Red Course's finishing hole. Shackelford writes that, "The 463-yarder plays uphill to a beautiful amphitheater setting. [the USGA's Mike] Davis ... contemplated but ultimately decided against using it so that Black Course customers could experience the entire U.S. Open course."

While I'd like there to be something more challenging than a 350-yard pitch and putt between the golfers and the club house, the bigger issue is making sure the fairway isn't underwater. Obviously.

Bethpage May Need to Rework No. 18 Before US Open Returns originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Winners and Losers, 2009 US Open

Shane Bacon — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:39:00 EST

Filed under: US Open

For the second straight year, the U.S. Open ended on a Monday. Nope, it wasn't the methodical boxing match that was Tiger Woods versus Rocco Mediate in 2008, but it did have nearly as much excitement, with a cast of characters as unlikely as Rocco taking down Woods. Besides the champion, who was the big winner at Bethpage Black, and who ended up a dud on Long Island?

Winners

Lucas Glover -- Well, obviously. You're talking about a man that had never played well in a single major championship, winning his first by two shots over some of the best names in golf. A guy that looked like he was going to fade away in his round after shooting a 38 on the front nine in the final round, only to play his final nine holes even par, including a clutch iron shot on the par-4 16th to set up his only birdie of the day. Sure, his final round 73 wasn't exactly scorching, but it didn't have to be. Glover put himself in a position to win the U.S. Open with his second round 64, only the 14th in U.S. Open history, and never seemed to let the bad shots get to him. Also, the way he drives the golf ball, you have to expect that another hot week in a big tournament could come for the 29-year-old. Also, Glover continued a streak dating back to last year, of players double-bogeying their first hole of the U.S. Open only to go on to win the tournament. First hole at Pebble Beach, the ball's in your court.

Phil Mickelson -- Say what you want about him coming up short, or his bogeys on two of his last four holes, but Mickelson nearly won the toughest test in golf when he had no business being anywhere near the top of that leaderboard. Phil came to Bethpage with a goal in mind, but with all the baggage Lefty had and all the on-again, off-again pressure that came with the five days of golf and bad weather, it's an incredible feat that Lefty even had a chance to claim his first U.S. Open. Sure, he's now the most famous bridesmaid in U.S. Open history, but he has more important things to deal with than another win. Phil's attitude at Bethpage was one everyone athlete should want to mimic, and even without a win, he brought a lot of joy to a golf tournament that seemed to drag on longer than expected.

David Duval -- Back in the middle of May, I wrote a piece titled, "Any Chance for a Duval Comeback?" David had just shot a 66 in the first round of the Valero Texas Open but it was a point worth chatting about. At Bethpage Black this week, I think we found our answer. Resilient really isn't a strong enough word for Duval's golf at the 2009 U.S. Open. Duval played his front nines this week at Bethpage a combined 6-over par, which was low-lighted by an unlucky triple-bogey to start his round on Monday. Most would have wilted after that. "It just isn't my week," a lot of golfers would have said after their ball plugged under a lip on the first shot of their final round. Duval bounced back with five birdies over his next 13 holes, and was a nasty horseshoe lip-out on the 17th hole away from putting serious pressure Glover. If you had forgotten what made Duval the top golfer in the world at one point, go replay his final round from Monday. He didn't get bothered, he made all but one clutch putts and his confidence level might be riding high for the first time in eight years.

The Bethpage Grounds Crew -- Like offensive linemen, the grounds crew at golf tournaments usually only get mentioned when things go wrong. This week, they deserve all the praise in the world. Conditions on Thursday and Saturday were horrendous, but the crew did all they could do to make it playable, and if not for the world "mud ball," they probably wouldn't have received a single negative comment all week. From what I heard about the course, it was a swamp, but the crew made it a playable golf tournament, and kudos to everyone involved. I'm sure none of them are reading this since Tuesday is the first time they've slept in five days.

Losers

Ernie Els -- It seems like an eternity since Ernie Els won two U.S. Opens in four years. Playing in the tournament that made him a star in the mid-90s, Els played so poorly at Bethpage Black that 11 of the 15 amateurs in the field bested him. His rounds of 78-77 put him eight places from last. Ernie made three birdies in his two rounds at the Black Course, offset by nine bogeys and five double-bogeys. He has now had just one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour since early March, and his golf game looks as far from "easy" as possible.

Padraig Harrington -- Padraig, please, for the love of Irish golf, GIVE UP ON THE SWING CHANGE! The man that won back-to-back major championships last year at the British and PGA has nearly as many missed cuts (6) in 2009 as made ones (7). His rounds of 76-76 came alongside Tiger Woods and Angel Cabrera, who looked legitimately annoyed at times on Thursday and Friday waiting for Harrington to hit. Padraig is now ranked 186th on tour in total driving, 176th in greens in regulation and a measly 129th in putting average. I'd say that is the trifecta of abysmal golf.

Geoff Ogilvy -- His opening rounds of 73-67 made most experts that picked the Australian to claim his second U.S. Open title a genius. It seemed that even with the bad draw, Ogilvy had weathered the storm (sorry for the weak pun) and now was in a position to start making some birdies and move up the leaderboard. A third round 77 that included just one birdie followed by a final round 75 with just one birdie meant Geoff was 12-over in his final two rounds and far from the composed, together golfer we had all expected to see defeat Bethpage.

Mother Nature -- You couldn't have just left us alone, could you? Mud, rain, storms, wind and more rain basically made Bethpage unplayable for the first three days. If not for that impressive job by the grounds crew, the Black course would have been a really nice, extremely difficult, puddle. At one point during Jason Sobel's live chat on Thursday, a reader sent a picture of what Turnberry, site of this year's British Open, looked like. Beautiful, sunny, without the slightest hint of a rain cloud. Don't you worry. I'm sure when it's time to tee it up near Ailsa Craig next month, the rain will be pounding down on the links.

Winners and Losers, 2009 US Open originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The US Open of Close Calls and Almosts

Greg Couch — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:49:00 EST

Filed under: US Open

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- When it was over, they stood together at the ceremony, Lucas Glover, Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ricky Barnes.

And then someone handed the cup to the wrong guy.

Glover. Yes, he won the U.S. Open Monday, and he deserved it. But this tournament is going to be remembered for the other three guys, and maybe for Tiger Woods, too.

This U.S. Open will forever be defined by the guys who didn't win.

Glover will be an answer to a trivia question.

And the name on the cup, too. Don't forget that. This is his title, and a great personal victory for a journeyman whose name goes on that cup with many of the game's all-time greats.

"I hope I don't downgrade it or anything," he said with the cup seemingly glued to his hand after posting a 4-under for the tournament, "with my name on there."

Woods, Mickelson, Duval and Barnes take away different things, success and failure, arrival and return.

For Woods, it was sheer failure. For Barnes, glass half-full. For Mickelson, well, he choked again at an Open, but this week was just too much for him.

Of all of them, I feel best for Duval. He had fallen into the dark for so long. Just like that, he went from golf's mountaintop. But he insisted that David Duval is not a quitter, and he kept talking all week about his kids, how quitting would send them the wrong message.

Years ago, when Duval was king, he just seemed like a weird guy, talking in a quiet whine, and acting as if he were a little uncomfortable for his own brain. And he hid behind those wraparound glasses.

But he talked all week about his kids, that he wanted them to know that he really could be a good golfer. Well, you think about all that, and realize a guy who has a lot of money spent six years of hell so that his kids would be proud of him.

And then Father's Day comes during his re-emergence, and he finishes tied for second at 2-under, after briefly being tied for the lead. He comes to the ceremony holding his youngest son, Brayden, and well, it was hard not to feel something.

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

He hadn't had a top-10 finish in seven years. And his confidence was shot.

And now he was back, and his kids could know.

"I was in the middle of a golf tournament trying to make birdies," he said. "And I was just having a blast."

Latest US Open Images

FARMINGDALE, NY - JUNE 22: David Duval smiles while holding his two year old son Brayden during the trophy presentation after the final round of the 109th U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on June 22, 2009 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Duval;Brayden Duval

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FARMINGDALE, NY - JUNE 22: David Duval smiles while holding his two year old son Brayden during the trophy presentation while Ricky Barnes looks on after the final round of the 109th U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on June 22, 2009 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Duval;Brayden Duval;Ricky Barnes

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FARMINGDALE, NY - JUNE 22: Lucas Glover celebrates with the winner's trophy alongside Jimmy Roberts of NBC Sports after his two-stroke victory at the 109th U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on June 22, 2009 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lucas Glover;Jimmy Roberts

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FARMINGDALE, NY - JUNE 22: Nick Taylor of Canada is awarded the low amateur medal during the continuation of the final round of the 109th U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on June 22, 2009 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nick Taylor

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FARMINGDALE, NY - JUNE 22: David Duval plays a shot from the ninth fairway during the continuation of the final round of the 109th U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on June 22, 2009 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Duval

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FARMINGDALE, NY - JUNE 22: David Duval's wife Susie and coach Puggy Blackmon watch the play during the continuation of the final round of the 109th U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on June 22, 2009 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Susie Duval;Puggy Blackmon

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FARMINGDALE, NY - JUNE 22: Lucas Glover celebrates by waving his ball on the tenth hole during the continuation of the final round of the 109th U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on June 22, 2009 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lucas Glover

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FARMINGDALE, NY - JUNE 22: David Duval's wife Susie and coach Puggy Blackmon watch the play during the continuation of the final round of the 109th U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on June 22, 2009 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Susie Duval;Puggy Blackmon

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FARMINGDALE, NY - JUNE 22: Ross Fisher of England reacts to his missed putt on the 12th hole during the continuation of the final round of the 109th U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on June 22, 2009 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ross Fisher

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FARMINGDALE, NY - JUNE 22: (L-R) Ross Fisher of England and David Duval shake hands on the 18th hole during the continuation of the final round of the 109th U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on June 22, 2009 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ross Fisher;David Duval

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For Woods, the picture is only cloudier. He finished in sixth place, at even-par, and was the biggest disappointment on the course. There has been some dispute these past few months about whether his multiple top-10 finishes have been a sign that he's back, following knee surgery, or that he's not.

I'll go with the second one. Tiger Woods has never been about top-10 finishes.

And it was clear at the TPC a few weeks ago that he had lost his swing, and didn't know how or why. But when he won the Memorial, everything had clicked back. He was supposed to take it from there.

Instead, he was never in the tournament. Not from the end of the first day.

"I striped it this week," he said. "I hit it just like I did at Memorial, and unfortunately I didn't make anything."

I don't know. Maybe he's just still recovering, but he has had plenty of time to find his groove now.

He still stands at 14 major titles, four behind Jack Nicklaus' record.

And he's 33 and has had knee troubles.

He's still likely to pass Nicklaus, but it's not a no-brainer anymore, especially after the way he fell apart at the end of the Masters.

Barnes was always a choke waiting to happen. But he nearly emerged with cult-figure status, with good looks, cool language and the goofy painter's cap.

"I was bummed because I had the lead," he said. "Some people could say I gagged it on the front, but I finished strong."

He kept coming back to those last six holes, and it meant something to him. Six years ago, Barnes was supposed to be the great rival for Woods. He got big endorsement bucks and was put on a Woods video game.

But he never made it. So he and Duval emerged from nowhere at the Open.

Barnes had the lead at the start of the day, but by the fifth hole, the pressure was too much.

He started hooking shots and taking chances when he shouldn't, then getting too tentative. It was four straight bogeys. It was total meltdown.

But on the final six holes, he made a birdie and then a few pars and realized he was still in this thing. It wasn't until his missed putt on 18 that he was done. He finished tied for second.

"Bridesmaid," he said, "isn't too bad."

And Mickelson? Well, the New York crowd already loved him, and that only increased with sympathy for what he was going through with his wife, Amy, recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

At one point, the crowd was roughly 15 deep for him, chanting his name and doing the rhythmic-clapping thing. When he walked across the street from the 14th green to the 15th tee, people were running down a hill to get a view, funneling into an area held off by security. One father was pointing out Phil to his son.

This was the potential for history, and it was the moment of Mickelson's career. He was that close to superstardom.

He tied for the lead before missing two short putts, also finishing 2-under, tied for second.

"Kind of an emotional four or five days," he said. "Certainly I'm disappointed. But now that it's over, I've got more important things going on and, oh well."

When Mickelson was done, and out of hope, he walked to the clubhouse, passing the official holding the cup. Fans poured out.

Glover didn't have it won yet. But the story was over.

The US Open of Close Calls and Almosts originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lucas Glover Steals US Open Title

Shane Bacon — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:39:00 EST

Filed under: US Open

It wasn't supposed to end like that. Not at all. Phil Mickelson was supposed to claim the US Open title for his wife Amy. David Duval was supposed to give the 1980 USA hockey team a run for its money on underdog stories. And heck, we haven't even gotten to Tiger Woods and his first-round collapse that ended up costing him the tournament.

Nope. It wasn't supposed to go the way it did, but the US Open never does. Lucas Glover, the 29-year-old that married his soul mate and reads a book a week, came out of nowhere to claim the 2009 US Open title on great drive and gutsy putting. Glover had never finished in the top-10 in any major and had missed the cut in all of his previous US Open appearances, but this was Bethpage Black and Glover can do one thing better than anyone ... drive the golf ball.

The man that is number one in total driving on tour kept swinging that square-headed Nike driver all week, smoking bomb after effective bomb while others were hacking it out of the hay. Glover put the exclamation point on his final round with an incredible birdie on the par-4 16th, and then making two pars on his way in for the victory.

That didn't come without fireworks from his competitors, however. Mickelson, who seemed to have the whole world slapping him on the back throughout the week, made a birdie on the par-4 12th hole and followed that up with what was, at the time, the shot of the tournament. Lefty stuck his second shot on the par-5 13th to five feet, and calmly rolled that in for an eagle and a share of the lead at 4-under. But that was as close as Phi would get, as he stumbled on the way in with bogeys on 15 and 17, one being a three-putt and the other a missed up-and-down from the tall grass short of the 17th green.

You'd like to think that Mickelson is eventually going to win one of these U.S. Opens, but Bethpage is now his record fifth runner-up finish, one more than Jack Nicklaus had in his career, and just another example of how close Phil can get without being able to come through.

Then comes Duval. There is bad luck, like when Hunter Mahan hit the flagstick on the 16th hole, only to have it ricochet off the putting surface, leading to a bogey, and there is really bad luck like Duval's opening tee shot on the par-3 third hole. Just short of the green, Duval's ball plugged just under the lip, leading to a triple-bogey. Instead of giving in to the golf gods, Duval played the rest of the day 3-under par, coming just short of his second major title.

You also can't shake your head at Ricky Barnes. The young, flashy American could have folded down the stretch of his final round -- a round in which he played a stretch of eight holes at 6-over -- but he hung in there and was a rolled-lip on 18 away from finishing in second place by himself.

Finally, we have to focus on the week that would have been for Woods. Tiger's first-round 74, when he played the last four holes 4-over, was what we will all look at over the next few days. Needing some things to happen on the back nine, Tiger's putter couldn't come through and he will leave another U.S. Open with that "if only" look on his face.

Sure, it might have been a week of "what ifs," but make no bones about it. Glover won this tournament. Nobody lost it.

Lucas Glover Steals US Open Title originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lefty Closes With Bogeys

Will Brinson — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:10:00 EST

Filed under: Golf, US Open

Phil Mickelson has an unfortunate history of seeing bogeys on the closing holes of US Open final rounds, and the same sort of short putting troubles and misfires happened again today: after an eagle at 13 put Lefty in a tie for the lead, he followed with a par and then closed out bogey-par-bogey-par to finish two strokes behind Lucas Glover as he headed into the clubhouse.

In other words, it was psuedo-tragic scene, simply because Mickelson was easily the crowd favorite at Bethpage Black this weekend, especially considering his wife Amy's struggles with breast cancer leading up to the Open.

Phil's not completely done -- Glover's approaching the final hole with a two shot lead over Mick, David Duval and Ricky Barnes, but it seems pretty safe to say that this will be another case of Lefty coming oh-so-close and not being able to close in the final holes of a US Open.

There's not much more to say -- the Open is obviously a difficult set of holes, but in his first three rounds, Mickelson finished the final four holes at three-under (over 12 holes, obviously) and on Monday afternoon, he shot two-over. Stereotyping golfers is an annoying habit, but there's little reason to think that Mickelson -- even with the sympathy sent his way -- will hear much more than a lot of "can't close" talk.

Lefty Closes With Bogeys originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tiger Finishes Even Par, Likely Out of Contention for US Open Title

Will Brinson — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:20:00 EST

Filed under: Golf, US Open

Tiger Woods didn't fire off his best round Monday at the 2009 US Open, but he didn't shoot poorly either, wrapping up with a 69 that left him at even par for the tournament. Unfortunately for Tiger, a three-bogey/four-birdie round probably won't be enough to land him in any potential playoff for consecutive Open titles.

That's not to say that the leaders aren't falling back -- Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Ross Fisher and Lucas Glover aren't up a substantial margin on Tiger, but at this point, it seems pretty unlikely that Woods will have a shot at any playoff that takes place.

The thing, though, is that Tiger wasn't horrible during this Open (obviously) and you have to feel that the weather really played a major role in his inability to distinguish himself from the rest of the field; the conditions that permeated Bethpage allowed someone like Ricky Barnes to really push ahead from the field and created a different sort of Open field.

Additionally, the weather took away Tiger's "typical Sunday" -- he could still make a charge, obviously, but there was something odd about seeing him in red on a day when the tournament wasn't closing. In the end, though, too many bogeys during his final round -- and possibly even more importantly, a poor finish to his first round that left him four-over after the first round of play -- cost him a shot to repeat at Bethpage and in the Open championship.

Tiger Finishes Even Par, Likely Out of Contention for US Open Title originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ian Poulter Tweets About Conditions at Bethpage Black

Ryan Wilson — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:05:00 EST

Filed under: PGA, US Open

Ian Poulter has probably worked himself into the "best player to never win a major" conversation -- particularly after carrying the European Ryder Cup team last fall -- but that doesn't, in general, make him any more tolerable.

Despite his considerable talents, Poulter's whinging can be grating at times. Like, say, this week. Apparently, he is the only person adversely affected by the rainforest-like conditions at Bethpage Black.

Poulter's been using Twitter to bellyache about the course, and he's even got visual proof!

"Perfect drive on 10th 235 yards to go into the wind. And that's what you get ... Perfect 3 wood straight into a bunker,"

To clarify, Poulter later writes that, "Just for your info I didn't tweet during a round, I took a picture of the ball then sent it during our break between rounds." Except that even if Poulter had snapped a photo during his round it wouldn't have been a rules violation. Via the AP:

"As long as it's not being used to gather information that would help him," USGA rules official Wendy Uzelac said.

She referred to Rule 14-3, which covers artificial devices, unusual equipment and unusual use of equipment that cannot help a player "in making a stroke or in his play" and "for the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play."

Either way, Poulter's in the clear. And while he's occasionally annoying, he sounds like a decent guy.

"I did meet the guy I gave the tickets too. Nice guy I'm glad we played today he drove 6 hours to watch. I'm glad he had a great day.

Although I'm guessing that won't slow up the hecklers.

Ian Poulter Tweets About Conditions at Bethpage Black originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heckling at US Open Leads USGA to Alter Beer Sales Policy

Ryan Wilson — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:55:00 EST

Filed under: PGA, US Open

It's one thing to heckle the best player in the world -- Tiger Woods is used to it and it comes with the high profile. It's something entirely different to heckle the world No. 2 a month after learning his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.

But that's exactly what happened to Phil Mickelson at Bethpage Black Sunday. According to Newsday, one fan called Phil "fat," while another noted, "Time to raise some money, Phil," apparently in reference to the recent news about Amy Mickelson. Classy, I know.

Look, all else equal, heckling is relatively harmless. Sure, it might occasionally rile up golfers not used to the abuse (as it were), but it also helps us keep things in perspective: golf is a game, it's not a congressional hearing.

When heckling, discretion is obviously important, but alcohol -- also a heckling staple -- counteracts common sense and good judgment. Which is why the USGA changed the beer policy mid-tournament:

The rowdiness that prompted Woods to shush fans Saturday night carried over into U.S. Open play Sunday. The USGA shut down beer stands at 6 p.m. - 15 minutes earlier than Saturday - but there they were at the first tee Sunday at 6:30 p.m., a dozen fans mercilessly ripping every golfer who teed off to start the fourth round.

Yep, that's right, the USGA shut down beer sales 15 minutes early. Problem solved. There are mitigating circumstances, of course. Save a hurricane, the weather couldn't have been worse. And fans, with nothing else to do between stoppages of play, passed time by downing beers.

Despite a few isolated incidents (fans jeered Ian Poulter for his pastel ensemble, although it's not clear they were drunk, possibly just offended), the New York State Police said that they had made no arrests, and the USGA had the foresight to have cabs on site to take fans from the grounds once play ended. One tiny oversight: the unintended consequences of good intentions:

[Steve Dash, vice president for operations for Long Island Yellow Cab] said the USGA has made the drinking problem worse by not allowing cabs to queue up near the taxi stand on Winding Road. The result on Saturday was drunken fights over scarce rides, said Charles Kappauf, operations manager for the cab company.

"There's some yelling, some brawling. It gets a little dicey," said Kappauf, who's on site trying to control the crowds. "They don't form a line. They form a mob."

The real loser in all this? Sergio Garcia, who was ripped (and re-ripped) mercilessly in 2002, the last time the Open was at Bethpage. And everybody just pretended like it didn't happen. Well, except the hecklers.

Heckling at US Open Leads USGA to Alter Beer Sales Policy originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Open Final Round Live Chat

Shane Bacon — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: US Open

Ricky Barnes has fallen off. Phil Mickelson is making a move. David Duval is hanging around too. This is shaping up to be a classic finish from Bethpage.

If you're at work, no worries because our final round live chat is Live Now. Get relaxed, drink a couple of cups of coffee and enjoy the fifth straight day of golf.

More Coverage: Live Leaderboard | Follow Couch Live at Open via Twitter

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=f7c848878a&amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;U.S. Open Live Chat&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

US Open Final Round Live Chat originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miscast of Characters Atop Leaderboard

Greg Couch — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: PGA, US Open

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- Try to guess where David Duval is in golf's world rankings.

"Eight-thousand and four?"

Good guess, but wrong. By a little. Try again. "I don't know what it is, 2009?"

Those were Duval's guesses. Even he doesn't know that's he's 882. But that number reflects the Duval of the past six years, since he fell from No. 1 and a British Open title all the way off a cliff, off the planet and out of the universe.

So it's shocking that he's here now, 2-under par and in third place, five strokes behind co-leaders Ricky Barnes and Lucas Glover going into the final day at the U.S. Open. How will he do now?

More Coverage: Barnes Clings to Lead | Tiger Heckled | Leaderboard

"I've been there before," Duval said. "It's not like a distant memory, but I think more than anything, the benefit I have possibly is that I also know the other side of it."

Something tells me we're in for a lot of choking Monday. If some of the bigger-name guys, such as Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods, have any chance, it's in that. Mickelson is five strokes back and Woods is seven. But the leaderboard is set up perfectly for choking now. Either that, or someone from some far-reaching corner of the golf world is going to win a big one, have the day of his life.

So this is about choking, and a failed phenom, a journeyman, an up-and-comer who has never been here, and a lost champion. That's the top of the leaderboard, in Barnes, Glover, Ross Fisher and Duval.

Usually by the final round of a major, the champions have made their way to, or at least near, the top. It's like the NCAA Tournament, where the Cinderellas wow everyone for a round, maybe two, but by the time you get to the Final Four, it's usually the big boys left. But at this Open, these other guys just keep hanging up there. I wait for the collapse, but instead, they stay there. Of course, the pressure goes up, maybe, a thousand fold in the final round of a major, and then escalates in multiples in each of the final few holes.

"I think today's atmosphere felt like [a final round]," said Barnes, the failed-phenom. "I'll just keep it going ...

"I got some nerves going and stuff like that. But that's golf. I think if you don't have a little bit of nerves when you're in the heat of competition, and especially in the last group, you're not human."

It's worse than that, harder than that. We've seen first-timers in the big-time just fold up, panic, lose control. "I don't think there are very many people that think I can or will do it, anyway," Glover said. "So that's fine."

Why doesn't anyone believe?

"First time I made the cut at an Open. Won one tournament," Glover said. "But Ricky and I are playing better than everybody right now."

Duval knows. He spent a few years with the dreaded label as the greatest golfer never to win a major. Then, he finally won the 2001 British Open. Now, he's competing with plenty of others who haven't won their first major. Barnes has never won a tournament at all, and rarely has even made a cut.

"You know, it happens," he said. "People win their first golf tournament as a major. It happens. It doesn't happen a lot, but it sure happens.

"Got to figure it out."

Yes, you have to learn how to win a major.

Barnes and Duval are the most compelling stories at the top. Fisher is a 28-year old player from England who plays mostly on the European tour. He's ranked No. 29. Glover is No. 71. But Barnes is 519. He has cult-figure potential today. Six years ago, he was slated as the next big thing in golf, the guy who would be Woods' rival for years. He was paid big sponsor dollars, put in a Woods video game. He was good-looking and quirky. And with all of that, he disappeared. He has been trying to work his way up through the minors. Finally reaching the tour this year, he has done nothing.

Now, he's winning the Open.

"I don't think you come in saying 'I'm going to win this week,' " he said, though Woods said almost exactly that. "I wanted to compete this week. I definitely thought I could compete."

Duval, meanwhile, dropped almost immediately after winning the British, thanks to a loss in interest, and then confidence, and then some injuries and his wife's difficult pregnancy. Why didn't he just give up?

"I believed I could get it back," he said. "I'm just not a quitter."

He remembered leaving Augusta after a particularly bad day at the Masters, thinking, "My older boys had come with me. So you have a rough day and quit and pack up and go home?

"I don't think that's an example to set."

So Monday comes down to a few stars who aren't in position to win and a handful of others who aren't ready.

(Like what you read here? Follow me on twitter: @gregcouch)

Latest U.S. Open Images

Tiger Woods of the U.S. waves after sinking a birdie putt on the seventh hole during the fourth round of the U.S. Open golf championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, June 21, 2009. REUTERS/John Sommers II (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)

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David Duval of the U.S. chips to the second green during the fourth round of the U.S. Open golf championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, June 21, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)

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Tiger Woods reacts after his chip shot to the fifth green during the final round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Sunday, June 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Tiger Woods reacts after his tee shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Sunday, June 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Ricky Barnes of the U.S. takes his ball from the grass after marking its spot when play was suspended during the fourth round of the U.S. Open golf championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, June 21, 2009. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)

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Lucas Glover of the U.S. reacts to a missed birdie putt on the first green during the fourth round of the U.S. Open golf championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, June 21, 2009. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)

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Ross Fisher of England hits from a sand trap on the second green during the fourth round of the U.S. Open golf championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, June 21, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)

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Phil Mickelson of the U.S. hits his tee shot on the second hole during the fourth round of the U.S. Open golf championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, June 21, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)

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Tiger Woods of the U.S. holds up his ball after scoring a birdie on the second hole during the fourth round of the U.S. Open golf championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, June 21, 2009. REUTERS/John Sommers II (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF IMAGES OF THE DAY)

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FARMINGDALE, NY - JUNE 21: Phil Mickelson watches a shot on the second hole during the final round of the 109th U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on June 21, 2009 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Phil Mickelson

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Miscast of Characters Atop Leaderboard originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Open Goes to Monday Finish, Ricky Barnes Clings to Lead

Ryan Wilson — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:05:00 EST

Filed under: PGA, US Open

For 54 holes, Ricky Barnes was the best golfer on the planet. And then, in the few hours between his third and final round at the 109th U.S. Open, something happened. Maybe he finally realized that this was Bethpage Black and not some podunk Nationwide stop.

Or maybe his luck just ran out. It happens, especially to guys who have spent the previous six years trying to live up to expectations. After getting to 11-under early Sunday, and leading by as many as six strokes, Barnes came back to the field and begin his final 18 at 8-under, just one shot clear of Lucas Glover.

On No. 1, Barnes pull-hooked his tee shot into the junk, and bumbled his way to an ugly bogey. On the second tee, he hit his tee shot left again, this time a shank. And before he could make matters worse, the horn sounded, suspending play for the evening.

More Coverage: Fans Heckle Tiger | U.S. Open Leaderboard

Which means that Barnes' first shot tomorrow will be out of thick rough. But for the second day in a row, he'll get to sleep on the lead (although this time, he'll share it with Glover). And while the pressure will be unbearable, the leaders are five shots clear of the field. It's a nice cushion, but Aaron Baddeley is Exhibit A of how quickly things can turn for the worst. In 2007, he was the 54-hole leaders, and 15 minutes into the 55th hole, he had fired a triple-bogey and lost his two-stroke lead.

Behind Barnes and Glover, four players are at 2-under, including Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson and David Duval. And Tiger Woods, who could very well could be leading this thing if not for the last four bogey-rific holes of his first round, birdied No. 7 to get to even for the week (T8) before calling it a night.

Final round coverage starts at 9AM ET tomorrow on ESPN before moving over to NBC at 11:30AM ET. And if you're a working stiff, Shane Bacon will be cranking up the live blog machine.

US Open Goes to Monday Finish, Ricky Barnes Clings to Lead originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drunken Fans at Bethpage Heckle Tiger Woods, Tiger Laughs Them Off

Will Brinson — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Golf, US Open

Tiger Woods is, nearly world-wide in fact, revered by all golf fans. He receives cheers and the gallery surrounding his pairing is always mobbed. But this weekend at Bethpage Black -- where Tiger won the US Open in 2002 -- he's been the subject of some surprising heckling.

Newsday's crew reports that late on Saturday, folks around the 10th hole were yelling some very non-"get in the hole!" type of things at Woods.

"We're on Long Island, baby, where men are men!" one fan yelled. "Put that umbrella down!"

[...]Woods did not respond to the people who were heckling him but tried to quiet the crowd with a "sshh" hand gesture, putting his finger to his lips, as golfers prepared to tee off on the adjacent 12th tee.

"Suck it up, you've got your own video game!" someone shouted at Woods.

Tiger's reaction to the fans was, unsurprisingly, typically Woodsian:

"They had a little bit to sip, I think," Woods said Sunday. "They had plenty of time in that rain delay, and I think they took full advantage of it."

It's an odd thing to see/hear Tiger being heckled by fans, regardless of the level of drunkenness present for an already aggressive New York area crowd; at the same time though, hey, whatever: if you want to try and dog Tiger because you've had too many beers, I'm all for that. However, if you're going to make an attempt to insult one of the greatest golfers in the world who happens to moonlight as one of the richest athletes of all time, at least bring the funny, folks. "How we do it on Long Island" ... gracious.

Drunken Fans at Bethpage Heckle Tiger Woods, Tiger Laughs Them Off originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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