JEFF PATERSON . . . . Golfing My Way

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .I

t's been a few days and I wasn't even on Long Island, but I still felt like I needed some time to dry out after slogging through the US Open coverage on TV.

Congrats to Lucas Glover. Few will recall that Glover was the co-leader after the opening round of the 2005 Bell Canadian Open at Shaughnessy. He and eventual champion Mark Calcavecchia both carded 5-under 70's that day. When they brought Glover into the media room, he did his usual post-round press conference and then was a guest with the crew from MOJO Sports Radio, which was broadcasting live from the tournament site.

I remember Glover for a couple of things -- he was engaging as he recounted his round in that thick southern drawl of his. And, with the tournament being played in early September, Glover was worried that because he was north of the border he wouldn't be able to catch his Clemson Tigers season-opening football game on television. It seemed the football issue was of greater concern than what was ahead over the final 54-holes at Shaughnessy.

As it turned out, Glover slipped from the lead and finished T-28. But, the opening round 65 was a sign of things to come as just six weeks later he won on tour for the first time at Disney.

And now four years later, through some ups and downs, Lucas Glover is a major champion. And he still seems like the down-to-earth guy who rolled through Vancouver nearly four years ago.

Hopefully he'll be back at Shaughnessy in 2011, trying to add a Canadian Open crown to his US Open title. And with a new July date, our national championship shouldn't interfere with Clemson's schedule.