Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

Glover gets the artist's treatment

Official painting of U.S. Open reminds Greenville native of final round glory

Lucas Glover has fond memories of the 17th hole at Bethpage Black from the final round of his U.S. Open victory. Soon, he and two hundred-plus others will have visual reminders of that career-changing moment.

When the Greenville native and former Clemson All-American arrived Wednesday at the S.C. Golf Association offices in Irmo, he got his first look at the U.S. Golf Association's official 2009 Open painting, by Cat Island artist Linda Hartough, which depicts the par-3 17th.

Through an arrangement with Hartough, the USGA and the SCGA, 276 prints of the painting - the number represents Glover's winning 4-under-par score - go on sale Dec. 10. Proceeds will support S.C. Junior Golf Foundation and Junior Golf Association programs.

Glover, who turns 30 today, eyed the original and a stack of the prints of Glover holding the U.S. Open trophy, and remembered that rainy day in June.

"That was an interesting walk from the 17th tee to the green," Glover said. "I knew I was up by two (over eventual runners-up Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ricky Barnes); I could see the scoreboard at 16 while I was waiting, and I could see Phil hitting at 18.

"I felt good; I was calm all day. My only thought was, 'Execute the shot.'"

SCGA officials said sales of the prints will help fund college scholarships and golf programs for many of those juniors.

"I think this will be very special," SCGA executive director Happ Lathrop said. "We've watched Lucas' career since his granddaddy (Clemson hall of fame football player Dick Hendley) entered him in a USGA event when he was 10, and we've seen him grow in the game, through the (2001) Walker Cup and now the first (men's) major" by a S.C. native.

Each of the numbered prints, priced at $350, will be signed by Glover and Hartough. The prints make their public debut at the Dec. 10-11 "Tiger Golf Gathering," an annual fundraiser for Clemson's golf program held at Greenville's Thornblade Club. Pre-orders can be made through the SCGA at (803) 732-9311.

Glover had "dibs" on five prints: Nos. 64, 69, 70 and 73 (his round-by-round scores), plus No. 276. He said those will go to his parents and grandparents, in-laws and family members.

The original oil painting also is for sale for $67,000, and Hartough will donate 30 percent of that to the SCJGF. Glover, who earned more than $4 million on the PGA Tour this year, smiled when asked if he was interested.

"We might have to talk about that," he said.

It would be a fitting memoir. "My best shot all week came at 17," Glover said. "It was to a left pin, and I hit a cut with my 4-iron. I'd worked on and thought about that shot, and I pulled it off."

He also won the biggest title of his five-year PGA Tour career - one he hopes will produce more victories.

Lathrop praised Glover, "not just for his win, but the way he handled that. He's the same ol' Lucas - he's just got a shiny new trophy."

Not to mention a piece of art to remember it by.

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