U.S. Open: Top 10 sleepers for Erin Hills
By Sam Belden
Lucas Glover — No. 99
Glover’s career has been all over the place since he won the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black — he’s won big trophies like the 2009 Presidents Cup and the 2011 Wells Fargo Championship, but he’s also sunk as low as No. 634 in the world ranking, a spot he occupied as recently as January 2015. But despite that, things have really turned around for him in the past two years, so he deserves a little love heading into this year’s national open.
With four top 25 finishes in 11 events this year, Glover has fought his way back into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking, currently occupying the 99th position. He owes most of that success to improved numbers with the longer clubs in his bag — at 11th on the PGA TOUR in strokes gained: off-the-tee and 15th in strokes gained: tee-to-green, his game should be a statistical match for the lengthy Erin Hills track. It’s been years since he last contended for a major, but with his uptick in form, he looks like a prime comeback candidate.
As things stand now, Glover is one of the more forgotten U.S. Open champions, but another memorable run at the national open could bolster his legacy. Let’s see if he can rise to the occasion.