Farmingdale, New York - Lucas Glover is not your average
golfer.
The 29-year-old US player hails from South Carolina and is the
grandson of a former American pro footballer with the Pittsburgh
Steelers.
More than that, he even likes to read - and not just sports books.
'I read fast,' he said recently. 'I read about a book every three
or four days. Murder mysteries, thrillers - it might be more of an
addiction. I sit down and two hours later I'm going, Oh, man, I've
got to go to sleep.
'Any murder mystery. I read any of them. It's like watching TV.
You can read them in one day. Clive Cussler is probably my favourite.
Daniel Silva. There's two.'
Glover had only won just once on the PGA Tour, at the Funai
Classic in 2005, and had never even made the cut at the US Open
before this week.
While Ricky Barnes, who shared the lead with him overnight, fell
apart and Phil Mickelson and David Duval faltered at the end, Glover
held firm to win by two strokes.
After initially falling back into the pack, a birdie at the 16th
hole took him back ahead, and he parred the last two holes under
pressure to clinch victory.
'We knew Tiger and Phil would make a move,' Glover said. 'We were
waiting on it. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. The old knees
were knocking pretty good. I dreamed about this as a kid, and here I
stand. I held it together.'
From Andy North to Scott Simpson and Lee Janzen, the US Open has
often thrown up unlikely or unheralded winners, but Glover believes
he belongs at the top.
'I guess if I can win this one, I should be able to play all right
every week,' Glover said. 'It will definitely be a big confidence
boost.'
He said it was a privilege to have his name on the trophy.
'I get to be beside (the past winners). It's an honour to be on
the trophy with names such as that. I hope I don't downgrade it or
anything with my name on there. It's an honour, and I'm just excited
and happy as I can be to be on here,' Glover said.
'It feels great. I didn't expect this Thursday, to say the least.
But I was playing well coming in. And I knew if I put four rounds
together I might have a chance. I am honoured and excited to win.'
USA
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