Lucas Glover always led the way in practice and workouts at Clemson, his former college coach says. So it's no surprise to Larry Penley that his former All-American became the first Tiger to win a major championship with his U.S. Open victory Monday.
"Lucas was pretty much out front in everything, first one to practice, first one to work hard," Penley said through tears after watching Glover's victory.
Glover capped a grueling week by shooting 3-over-par 73, securing a two-stroke victory at Bethpage Black over Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ricky Barnes.
Glover is a Greenville, S.C., native who learned to play from his grandfather, Clemson football Hall of Famer Dick Hendley.
The 82-year-old Hendley remembers his grandson having good balance when he put a club in his hand at 3 years old.
"I thought he had something special that a lot of children don't have," Hendley said by phone from his home Monday.
When Glover was 9, Hendley took him to the late golf teacher Dick Harmon -- who was instrumental in Lucas' development until his death in 2006. After excelling at Wade Hampton High, Glover signed to play golf at his granddad's college in 1997.
The Tigers were in the midst of producing several PGA Tour regulars, including Glover's Clemson teammates Charles Warren, Jonathan Byrd and D.J. Trahan.
Right away, Penley saw the steely, cap-pulled-low focus on display at Bethpage on Monday.
Penley recalled how Byrd and Tiger golfer John Engler, who is from Augusta, were tossing a football on the practice range once while Glover was hitting balls. Each time the ball came a little closer -- and Glover grew a bit more irritated.
Finally, Glover picked up the football "and threw it, I mean a frozen rope, about 75 yards," Penley said.
Glover won three consecutive South Carolina amateur titles from 1998 to 2000. He helped the Tigers finish in the top 10 nationally three of his four seasons there.
In 2007, Glover joined his grandfather in Clemson's hall of fame.
They are the first grandfather-grandson duo to be enshrined.
Hendley watched his grandson's victory on television, calling at Glover through the TV.
"'Luke, you're the best golfer in the world today,' " Hendley said.
ONE BUSY CHAMP
Lucas Glover had planned to play four consecutive tournaments after the U.S. Open, and his victory Monday at Bethpage Black won't change that.
The former Clemson All-American is playing at the Travelers Championship this week in Cromwell, Conn. That is followed by the AT&T National in Bethesda, Md.; the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.; and the British Open at Turnberry in Scotland.
Travelers Championship tournament officials asked Glover if he would play in today's pro-am, and Glover wouldn't even back out of that.
"That would give me a break on Tuesday, and they're doing everything they can to bring me there," he said. "I like the tournament, I like the course and I'm playing well. Why not play there?"
-- Associated Press
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