Ten years later, Hicks and Stewart are together again at Pinehurst.
This time, Mike Hicks is caddying for Aaron Stewart, son of the late Payne Stewart, as he attempts to qualify Tuesday for the match-play portion of the North and South Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2. In 1999, Payne Stewart won the U.S. Open at Pinehurst.
Aaron Stewart plays college golf for SMU and is one of 97 golfers chasing 33 available spots in the 64-player bracket that begins match play on Wednesday.
The top 31 seeds are already in place with defending champion Matt Savage, a Florida State golfer, the No. 1 seed.
Charlotte's Corey Nagy is exempted into match play. He is seeded 13th.
Oklahoma State's Morgan Hoffman, ranked No. 2 in the world amateur rankings, is in the field along with 13th-ranked Erik Flores.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The story of Mudville Mick
I thought I'd pass along a poem written by my brother, Dave, this week in the aftermath of Phil Mickelson's latest U.S. Open disappointment. Nice to know somebody in the family has a way with words.
Mudville Mick
By Dave Green
The outlook was quite brilliant for the Mudville Mick that day;
The score stood four to four with but four holes more to play.
When Duval nearly died at three, and Barnes rode the bogey train,
A sickly silence had fallen upon the patrons of the game.
A straggling few got up to go in deep despair.
The rest clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought if only Mickelson could but get a putt to drop
We'd put up even money now that he'd end up on top.
Mick had made a bird at twelve; at thirteen he made eagle,
and suddenly he was in the chase like a fox-hunting beagle.
He made a par at 14, then walked to fifteen tee,
The toughest hole of all with a green he couldn't see.
And now the urethane-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
And Micky stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Not great by Micky's standards, but he had a putt for par.
Like so many prior Opens, it failed to find the jar.
From the hillside, bleak with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm waves on a worn and distant shore.
"Oh no!" shouted someone in the stands, "Not again" another cried.
But Mickey still had most of New York standing stalwart by his side.
With a smile of Christian charity great Mickey's visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He parred the easy 16th, and once more the spheroid flew;
But Mickey needed birdie at one of the last two.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that hero Mickey would let it fly again.
The sneer is gone from Mickey's lip, his jaw is clinched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence the ball, and his cursed fate.
And now it lands softly in the long grass at the par three seventeen,
And now he needs to get it up and down from just off the green.
His second is not his best, it leaves him six feet for par.
If this one fails to find the cup, then honey start the car.
Oh! somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville -- Mickey's par putt has stayed out.
Mudville Mick
By Dave Green
The outlook was quite brilliant for the Mudville Mick that day;
The score stood four to four with but four holes more to play.
When Duval nearly died at three, and Barnes rode the bogey train,
A sickly silence had fallen upon the patrons of the game.
A straggling few got up to go in deep despair.
The rest clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought if only Mickelson could but get a putt to drop
We'd put up even money now that he'd end up on top.
Mick had made a bird at twelve; at thirteen he made eagle,
and suddenly he was in the chase like a fox-hunting beagle.
He made a par at 14, then walked to fifteen tee,
The toughest hole of all with a green he couldn't see.
And now the urethane-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
And Micky stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Not great by Micky's standards, but he had a putt for par.
Like so many prior Opens, it failed to find the jar.
From the hillside, bleak with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm waves on a worn and distant shore.
"Oh no!" shouted someone in the stands, "Not again" another cried.
But Mickey still had most of New York standing stalwart by his side.
With a smile of Christian charity great Mickey's visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He parred the easy 16th, and once more the spheroid flew;
But Mickey needed birdie at one of the last two.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that hero Mickey would let it fly again.
The sneer is gone from Mickey's lip, his jaw is clinched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence the ball, and his cursed fate.
And now it lands softly in the long grass at the par three seventeen,
And now he needs to get it up and down from just off the green.
His second is not his best, it leaves him six feet for par.
If this one fails to find the cup, then honey start the car.
Oh! somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville -- Mickey's par putt has stayed out.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Being the U.S. Open champion won't change Glover
Lucas Glover was spending Tuesday making the rounds in New York with his new U.S. Open trophy.
He was on Regis Philbin's morning show, did some ESPN stuff and was booked to be on 'The Late Show With David Letterman,' pretty heady stuff for a guy most golf fans only had a vague awareness of before the U.S. Open.
Nothing will ever be the same for Glover, though I'm thinking he won't change. He's a solid guy, somebody you'd like to spend time with.
He'll go on being Lucas, keeping up with Clemson football, staying close with his friends, being nice to everybody he comes in contact with.
As U.S. Open champion, he's probably going to be on the President's Cup team this fall and there's a good chance he'll be on the Ryder Cup team next year in Wales. He nearly ruined his game trying to make the Ryder Cup team in 2006 but now he's older, wiser and knows better how to handle expectations, particularly his own.
Glover understands he may not have been the most popular champion Monday at Bethpage. Phil Mickelson's story was so compelling as was David Duval's retuurn to glory. Ricky Barnes, meanwhile, was the ultimate underdog.
Glover, though, emerged as a worthy champion. He played better than everyone and he earned it. When it came time for someone to win the U.S. Open, Glover grabbed it with his birdie on the 16th hole.
As people get to know more about Glover, they'll come to like him even more.
How do you not like a U.S. Open champion who plans to go back to his favorite barbecue joint for lunch when he gets back home to Greenville, S.C.?
He was on Regis Philbin's morning show, did some ESPN stuff and was booked to be on 'The Late Show With David Letterman,' pretty heady stuff for a guy most golf fans only had a vague awareness of before the U.S. Open.
Nothing will ever be the same for Glover, though I'm thinking he won't change. He's a solid guy, somebody you'd like to spend time with.
He'll go on being Lucas, keeping up with Clemson football, staying close with his friends, being nice to everybody he comes in contact with.
As U.S. Open champion, he's probably going to be on the President's Cup team this fall and there's a good chance he'll be on the Ryder Cup team next year in Wales. He nearly ruined his game trying to make the Ryder Cup team in 2006 but now he's older, wiser and knows better how to handle expectations, particularly his own.
Glover understands he may not have been the most popular champion Monday at Bethpage. Phil Mickelson's story was so compelling as was David Duval's retuurn to glory. Ricky Barnes, meanwhile, was the ultimate underdog.
Glover, though, emerged as a worthy champion. He played better than everyone and he earned it. When it came time for someone to win the U.S. Open, Glover grabbed it with his birdie on the 16th hole.
As people get to know more about Glover, they'll come to like him even more.
How do you not like a U.S. Open champion who plans to go back to his favorite barbecue joint for lunch when he gets back home to Greenville, S.C.?
Monday, June 22, 2009
Lucas Glover, U.S. Open champion
I understand that most of the country wanted Phil Mickelson or David Duval.
Standing behind the 17th green today at Bethpage, watching Duval birdie the 16th hole in the distance while Phil was playing the par-3 17th trying to stay even with Lucas Glover, the roars for Duval and Mickelson were enormous.
More than once, the bleacher crowd broke into a chant of "Let's go Phil, let's go Phil!."
Lucas Glover was the other guy.
And now he's the U.S. Open champion.
If you don't know much about him, trust me, you'd like him. It's tough not to.
Sure, he doesn't smile a lot and he keeps his head down while he's playing golf but he earned this moment and a lot of people are happy for him.
He's not who you may think he is. Sure, he's a son of the south, living in Greenville, S.C., but he's a man of the world. Books. Wine. Music. Those are things Glover cares about.
Not as much as he cares about Clemson athletics but he lives in a big world.
And he's funny. Quietly so.
After signing his scorecard Monday afternoon, Glover was being escorted around the back of the Bethpage clubhouse to the 18th green to receive the Open trophy. When he saw his agent, Mac Barnhardt standing on the porch, Glover smiled and stuck his tongue out at his manager.
All in good fun.
As his caddie, Don Cooper said, "We knew how good he was. He proved it.
"You'll see a lot of smiles from here on out."
Standing behind the 17th green today at Bethpage, watching Duval birdie the 16th hole in the distance while Phil was playing the par-3 17th trying to stay even with Lucas Glover, the roars for Duval and Mickelson were enormous.
More than once, the bleacher crowd broke into a chant of "Let's go Phil, let's go Phil!."
Lucas Glover was the other guy.
And now he's the U.S. Open champion.
If you don't know much about him, trust me, you'd like him. It's tough not to.
Sure, he doesn't smile a lot and he keeps his head down while he's playing golf but he earned this moment and a lot of people are happy for him.
He's not who you may think he is. Sure, he's a son of the south, living in Greenville, S.C., but he's a man of the world. Books. Wine. Music. Those are things Glover cares about.
Not as much as he cares about Clemson athletics but he lives in a big world.
And he's funny. Quietly so.
After signing his scorecard Monday afternoon, Glover was being escorted around the back of the Bethpage clubhouse to the 18th green to receive the Open trophy. When he saw his agent, Mac Barnhardt standing on the porch, Glover smiled and stuck his tongue out at his manager.
All in good fun.
As his caddie, Don Cooper said, "We knew how good he was. He proved it.
"You'll see a lot of smiles from here on out."
It's finally a U.S. Open
It took a while -- five wet, sloppy days -- but it finally became the U.S. Open today.
Lucas Glover has a two-stroke lead with seven holes to play in the final round of the Open but they'll be the toughest seven holes he's ever played.
Tiger Woods isn't going to win but Phil Mickelson still may. So may Ross Fisher, the best player on the board you've never heard of. Hunter Mahan is right there.
They're two back on the back nine and the U.S. Open causes strange things to happen.
It's no great surprise that the leaders -- Glover and Ricky Barnes -- have backed up. It would have been a bigger surprise if they hadn't. Barnes has looked uncomfortable throughout the day. Glover, meanwhile, looks understandably nervous.
They play for moments like these. Now someone has to deliver.
Lucas Glover has a two-stroke lead with seven holes to play in the final round of the Open but they'll be the toughest seven holes he's ever played.
Tiger Woods isn't going to win but Phil Mickelson still may. So may Ross Fisher, the best player on the board you've never heard of. Hunter Mahan is right there.
They're two back on the back nine and the U.S. Open causes strange things to happen.
It's no great surprise that the leaders -- Glover and Ricky Barnes -- have backed up. It would have been a bigger surprise if they hadn't. Barnes has looked uncomfortable throughout the day. Glover, meanwhile, looks understandably nervous.
They play for moments like these. Now someone has to deliver.
Has Mickelson's moment arrived?
Phil Mickelson has 16 holes today to make it happen at the U.S. Open.
Can he still win?
Absolutely.
Will he?
That may depend more on the two players five shots in front of him -- Lucas Glover and Ricky Barnes -- than on Phil.
Mickelson resumes his final round today at 2-under par, tied with David Duval, Ross Fisher and Hunter Mahan. The attention, though, is focused squarely on Lefty, who is adored by the muddy New York crowds.
To this point, Mickelson has done what's essential to win an Open -- hang around. He hasn't been among the leaders but he's been close enough to the front to remain relevant. Making two late birdies to close out his third round Sunday was huge. It kept him in the tournament.
If Mickelson can start fast today and make the co-leaders look over their shoulders, he has a chance. He'll be playing off the emotion of the crowd, not to mention his own personal emotion with wife, Amy, home with breast cancer.
A Mickelson victory today is still a long shot. But in a tournament that has been damp, dreary and disappointing to this point, maybe his moment has arrived.
It's time to find out.
Can he still win?
Absolutely.
Will he?
That may depend more on the two players five shots in front of him -- Lucas Glover and Ricky Barnes -- than on Phil.
Mickelson resumes his final round today at 2-under par, tied with David Duval, Ross Fisher and Hunter Mahan. The attention, though, is focused squarely on Lefty, who is adored by the muddy New York crowds.
To this point, Mickelson has done what's essential to win an Open -- hang around. He hasn't been among the leaders but he's been close enough to the front to remain relevant. Making two late birdies to close out his third round Sunday was huge. It kept him in the tournament.
If Mickelson can start fast today and make the co-leaders look over their shoulders, he has a chance. He'll be playing off the emotion of the crowd, not to mention his own personal emotion with wife, Amy, home with breast cancer.
A Mickelson victory today is still a long shot. But in a tournament that has been damp, dreary and disappointing to this point, maybe his moment has arrived.
It's time to find out.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The end is in sight at the U.S. Open. Is a winner?
At the great risk of jinxing this thing, it appears the U.S. Open is going to end on Monday.
The fourth round, which once seemed as far away as Antarctica, began at 5:30 Sunday and it will resume Monday during morning rush hour. If the rain stays away as predicted, we could have a champion by early afternoon -- though there's always the chance of an 18-playoff, which seems totally likely the way this Open has gone.
Even with that, there's reason to think we'll have a champion before Tuesday.
Who will it be?
Not Tiger Woods.
Ricky Barnes?
Hard to believe a guy with 37 career PGA Tour starts can win the U.S. Open.
Lucas Glover?
He has to prove he can handle a final round unlike any he's ever played.
David Duval?
What a story that would be.
Phil Mickelson?
See David Duval.
The U.S. Open is always a grind. Few have been as grinding as this one.
And it's still anyone's guess who wins.
The fourth round, which once seemed as far away as Antarctica, began at 5:30 Sunday and it will resume Monday during morning rush hour. If the rain stays away as predicted, we could have a champion by early afternoon -- though there's always the chance of an 18-playoff, which seems totally likely the way this Open has gone.
Even with that, there's reason to think we'll have a champion before Tuesday.
Who will it be?
Not Tiger Woods.
Ricky Barnes?
Hard to believe a guy with 37 career PGA Tour starts can win the U.S. Open.
Lucas Glover?
He has to prove he can handle a final round unlike any he's ever played.
David Duval?
What a story that would be.
Phil Mickelson?
See David Duval.
The U.S. Open is always a grind. Few have been as grinding as this one.
And it's still anyone's guess who wins.
