FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — If last year offered the greatest U.S. Open ever, Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate memorably grappling for 91 holes, then this edition at Bethpage Black counts as the Theater of the Bizarre.
Ricky Barnes seized the rain-soaked lead with a world ranking of No. 519, zero victories as a professional and his brother as his caddie — 10 years after Andy Barnes played in the U.S. Open and Ricky carried his bag. Co-leader Lucas Glover missed the cut in three previous Opens. Another player squarely in the hunt, David Duval, once stood No. 1 in the world and now is No. 882.
They are plodding along in a tournament starting and stopping at the whim of Mother Nature. Players have spent as much time waiting out rain delays as hitting shots, wondering if a champion will ever really hoist the silver trophy.
Today, maybe, it will happen. Barnes and Glover will lead the pack back to the Black at 7 a.m. MDT, midway through their second hole of the final round. They left the course Sunday night tied for the lead at 7-under-par, five shots ahead of Duval, Hunter Mahan, Ross Fisher and Phil Mickelson.
Yes, the most appetizing outcome for the mass of humanity traipsing around Bethpage — Mickelson winning his first Open in the wake of wife Amy’s breast-cancer diagnosis — remains possible.
So does Woods’ quest to become the first back-to-back champion in 20 years: He sank a short birdie putt in near-darkness to reach even-par, seven shots back.
This qualifies as the height of bizarre — Woods frantically trying to chase down Barnes, he of the painter’s cap and herky-jerky swing and hugely disappointing pro career. Barnes threatened to run away with the tournament at one point Saturday, building a six-shot lead before staggering and settling for 70 in his third round.
Now, based on his late missteps — including a wild hook into tall fescue on his final drive — Barnes will resume play Monday with two divergent roads in front of him. Will he follow CU’s Steve Jones (1996, Oakland Hills) and become one of the most improbable champs in Open history? Or will he join Jason Gore (2005, Pinehurst) as a charming underdog who flamed out in the final round?
“I’m in good position,” Barnes said. “So I’ll just keep it going.”
No matter the outcome, history will remember this as one of the strangest Opens ever.
Consider this: In a sport accustomed to routine, 18 holes day after predictable day, Barnes hasn’t played exactly 18 on any one day. He didn’t hit a single shot Thursday and then played 27 holes on Friday, nine Saturday and 19 1/2 on Sunday.
More than one player seemed dazed, trying to figure out which round he was playing, what day it was and whether he should head back to the range, the tee or the hotel.
Heavy rain Saturday night pushed back Sunday’s scheduled start by more than four hours. When the last pairing of Barnes and Glover finally began to play, New York’s restless fans were ready.
The younger Barnes, a 28-year-old PGA Tour rookie, must conquer Glover, a 29-year-old in his sixth season on tour. Glover grew up in South Carolina, starred at Clemson and speaks with a soft, Southern drawl. He also hits the ball long and pure, a handy habit.
Glover, like Barnes, shot 70 in Sunday’s third round.
Now they will both come back for an unusual Monday finish, without history on the grand stage. Many familiar names will lurk in the shadows, from Mickelson and Duval to Mike Weir and Retief Goosen — even that Tiger guy, a strange sight in an utterly strange U.S. Open.
U.S. Open/Glance
Site: Bethpage State Park (Black Course) in Farmingdale, N.Y.
The course: The Black is one of five 18-hole courses at Beth- page State Park, the largest public golf facility in the country.
Length: 7,426 yards.
Par: 35-35—70.
Format: 72 holes of stroke play.
Playoff, if necessary: 18 holes of stroke play.
Purse: TBA ($7.5 million in 2008). Winner’s share: TBA ($1.35 million in 2008).
Defending champion: Tiger Woods.
TV: Today, the rain-delayed fourth round continues beginning at 7 a.m. on ESPN, then moves to KUSA-9 at 9:30 a.m. An 18-hole playoff, if necessary, would follow.
