Lucas Glover stood his ground at Bethpage Black, navigating an emotional and pressure-packed final day to claim his U.S. Open victory. As the chaos unfolded around him, Phil Mickelson charged for a storybook win while fans roared his name, hoping he’d triumph for his wife, Amy, who was battling breast cancer. David Duval, once the world’s best, surged back into contention after years of struggles, while Ricky Barnes, the 54-hole leader, watched his advantage slip away. But amid the drama, Glover stayed composed, making just one birdie—a clutch six-footer on the 16th—to break the final tie before closing with steady pars for a two-shot win.

The Monday finish, forced by rain delays, marked a turning point in major championship history, with none of the trophies belonging to Tiger Woods for the first time in five years. Woods made a late push but fell short, settling for a tie for sixth. Mickelson’s heartbreaking U.S. Open record extended to five runner-up finishes after missed putts at 15 and 17 ended his hopes. Meanwhile, Duval’s resurgence saw him tie for second. His best finish in years. But when the final putt dropped, it was Glover—steady, unfazed, and clutch under pressure—who lifted the trophy, proving that resilience wins the toughest battles.

In the latest episode of Stepping Into the Fire, Lucas Glover relived the experience. “If we weren’t playing well, we wouldn’t be in this situation. If we weren’t doing a lot of good things, we wouldn’t be here in this situation. Were there nerves? Absolutely. I was 29 years old, first time in contention at a major. Tiger was a couple of groups ahead, Mickelson was in the group ahead, and David Duval was resurging his career at the time. I was playing with Ricky Barnes, who got it into double digits for only the second time in U.S. Open history. So, a lot was going on,” he said. Well, there is no denying that Lucas Glover is a great golfer. He is currently ranked 33 on the OWGR list and has acquired 6 PGA Tour wins. 

He acknowledged that there were certainly nerves at the moment, but the key was staying focused. The primary task remained executing at a high level, which, on that course, meant finding the fairway first and then building from there. While there was no fear, he admitted that the nerves were definitely present. But well, going back to the US Open win, the final day did not see the PGA Tour Pro at his best. He started the round with two even pars but then carded four bogeys throughout the round. He only made one birdie on the sixteenth hole and settled for a disappointing 3-over. But it was the only birdie that got him to win.

The entire crowd was chanting Phil Mickelson’s name by then, and things turned around after that. When asked if he could hear the entire crowd in New York chanting Mickelson’s name, Glover said, “Oh yeah. That’s the coolest thing about Bethpage. Those last four holes are like a proper arena. You cross the street coming from 14, then go over to 15 tee, with 16 green right there, 17 tee right there, and 17 green up on top of the hill. Then 18 kinds of lines in the background, so it’s its own little four-hole arena. The crowd was chanting, “Phil! Phil! Phil!” I could hear it. They were pulling for him,” he added. 

He recalled that the fan-favorite had pulled into a tie with him for the lead late in the final round of the U.S. Open. Fully expecting Tiger Woods to make a move, he wasn’t surprised when it happened. With Tiger Woods and another top player ranked first and second in the world at the time, he knew their charge was inevitable. The only question was when it would happen and how close they would get. Though there had been some separation, it was never a matter of if they would make a run, but when. At that moment, he and his competitors had to hold their ground and respond to the pressure they were applying.

Despite having some decent finishes so far, the 45 YO is still insecure at this point, and well let’s clarify, it is not amid his peers.

Lucas Glover talks about the changing landscape in golf

Back in October 2024, Lucas Glover competed in the Sanderson Farms Championship, and the tournament had been going well for him. During the third round, he shot 4-under, bringing his total to 16-under—a strong performance. Heading into the final day, Glover held a T4 position in the Mississippi event, but his experience far surpassed that of the players ahead of him. Keith Mitchell and Beau Hossler occupied the top two spots, with Mitchell at 32 and Hossler at 29, both younger and less seasoned than Glover. However, despite his edge in experience, Glover did not view it as an advantage.

After finishing his Saturday round, Lucas Glover took a seat for a brief media session. When asked whether his past victories on the PGA Tour gave him an edge over the competition, he responded candidly, saying, “I don’t think so anymore.” It was a surprising remark from someone with his level of experience, raising the question—why did he feel that way? Golf has evolved significantly over the years, with advancements in technology shaping the game. From improved golf balls and clubs to advanced data analysis tools, the modern era presents challenges and opportunities that weren’t as prominent during the time of past legends. Glover explained that experience may have provided an advantage two decades ago, but today’s field is different. “Everybody out here is so good and so seasoned to win. Just it’s in the DNA now. All the young guys coming up—it’s like the program different than 20 years ago,” he noted.

Heading into the final round, Glover remained within the top eight, standing out as the most experienced player in the group. He was also the only one among them with multiple PGA Tour wins, aside from Keith Mitchell, who claimed victory at the 2019 Honda Classic. Despite his veteran status, Glover acknowledged that nerves would play a role. “But coming down the stretch tomorrow, nerves are nerves, and knowing how to handle it is different. The depth out here is so deep—the depth of talent, I should say—that there will be a lot of the guys who probably aren’t worried about nerves.”

With the competition intensifying and younger players rising to the occasion, Glover’s experience would soon be put to the test. Would it be enough to carry him to victory, or would the new generation prove that the game has indeed changed?