Lucas Glover Wins 2009 US Open for His First Major

Lucas Glover has won his first major title at the weather-delayed US Open on Monday by two strokes over the competition. Glover finished at four under and held his composure late, helping him get only his second career PGA Tour victory. David Duval and Phil Mickelson made late charges for the lead but could never secure it like Glover did. Scores were surprisingly low for the first three rounds and many golfers were in red numbers. The fourth and final round played expectedly high with many golfers shooting over par.

David Duval, former World Number One golfer before his meteoric fall, went under the radar for most of the first three rounds before emerging as one of the leaders in the pack at three under. Duval would be tied for the lead after making birdie on the 14th, 15th, and 16th holes on the final day. Duval would make a bogey on the next hole and finish impressively at two under, good for a runner-up finish.

Ricky Barnes, the 2002 US Amateur Champion, was the surprising leader after the second and third round but the pressure caught up to him in the final round. At one point in the third round, Barnes was eleven under and had a six shot lead over the rest of the field. Barnes bogeyed six of the first nine holes in the final round and did not have a birdie until the 13th hole. Barnes shot a 76, finishing at two under, tied for second place.

The crowd favorite at this year's US Open was Phil Mickelson. Mickelson's wife had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and he suspended his PGA Tour schedule to be with her. Mickelson returned to golf a few weeks ago and said that he was going to try to win the US Open for his wife. Mickelson got off to a good start and was two under after three rounds and had a good chance to win his first US Open. Mickelson even led in the final round at one point and was four under par before making bogeys at the 15th and 17th holes and finishing at two under, also tied for second place.

Ross Fisher, the only non-American who finished in the top 6, had a chance to win the title before making bogeys on three holes at the back nine. Fisher finished at one under, good for fifth place.

Defending champion Tiger Woods, looking for his 15th Major Championship, struggled early and never really found his groove. Woods shot a 74 after one round and barely made the cut. Woods made a late charge, shooting 69, 68, and 69 in the final three rounds for even par, tied for sixth place.

This was the second consecutive year that the US Open saw a Monday finish. In 2008, there was an 18-hole playoff to determine a winner between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate. Woods and Mediate were tied after 18 holes, before Woods won on the first sudden death hole. This year, play was suspended because of rain in the first and third round. All 72 holes could not be completed until Monday.

Rounding out the top 10 were Soren Hansen, Hunter Mahan, Henrik Stenson, and Rory Mcilroy.