U. S. Open recap / A look at Monday’s action
Straight shooter
The champion, Lucas Glover, said this was probably the best ball-striking week he’s ever had, and the numbers bear it out. Glover was eighth in driving distance (291.1), 13th in fairways hit (71 percent) and fourth in greens in regulation (72 percent). That’s a tough combination to beat if you’re making putts, and Glover was 11th in putting in the Open.
Call it a par-5
The 10th hole, a par-4, played 501 yards into a northerly wind in Monday’s final round, and the results show it. There was only one birdie all day on No. 10, by Kenny Perry. There were 26 bogeys and six double bogeys.
Five seconds
Phil Mickelson set a dubious record by finishing second in the U. S. Open for the fifth time. If it’s any consolation, you have to be a pretty good golfer to keep finishing as the runnerup in this event. Mickelson had shared the record with Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
Open trivia
Glover grew up in South Carolina, but he’s a lifelong Yankee fan. He said it’s because Don Mattingly was his favorite player in Little League. He proudly asserted that he liked them even when they weren’t winning big. Glover is also an avid reader. He said he loves murder mysteries. Clive Cussler and Daniel Silva are two of his favorites.
Late starter
Defending champion Tiger Woods finished four strokes back at even-par 280. Woods played the last four holes of his opening round in 4-over. From that point on, he had the lowest score in the field. Woods played the last 54 holes in 206, 4-under par. Matt Bettencourt, a 34- year-old PGA Tour rookie, played the last three rounds in 3-under 207. Bettencourt finished in a six-way tie for 10th at 282.
Ames to please
Stephen Ames shot a final-round 72 to catch fellow Canadian Mike Weir at 282 for the Open, 2-over par. Weir led after a first-round 64, but went 74-74 on the final two days. Canadian amateur Nick Taylor shot 65 in the second round, ballooned to 75 in the last two rounds.
Quotable
Ross Fisher, asked what he can take from the Open to be a better player: “Not to be funny, but I think I’ll go home and work on my putting.” He wasn’t being funny. Fisher was ninth in driving distance and first in greens in regulation (76 percent). But he finished fifth, mainly because he was 52nd in putting. If he’s this good from tee to green, this isn’t the last we’ll hear from the young Englishman in majors.
Last word
David Duval, asked to describe the week: “Long. Very long week. Very tiring week. Start, stop, up at 5 every day, walking through wet, heavy, long golf course. So tiring mentally and physically.” Amen.
—Jerry Sullivan
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