Glover holds on for win

Lucas Glover celebrates with the trophy after his two-stroke victory at the US Open at Bethpage.

Lucas Glover survived a dogfight yesterday to be crowned US Open champion at Bethpage State Park in New York. The American closed with a three-over-par 73 to finish on four under par, two shots clear of Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ricky Barnes who were tied for second. It completed a dramatic final round, which had seen those three, Ross Fisher and even Tiger Woods - the defending champion - battle for the title as the tournament was blown wide open by a final-round collapse from third-round leader Ricky Barnes.

Glover took the outright lead with his lone birdie of the day at the par-four 16th and held on, taking home $1.35 million (Dh5m) for the memorable victory. American Barnes, without a victory in six years as a professional, did a good job of extending that streak, his final-round imploding as play resumed at the par-70 Bethpage Black. England's Fisher began the fifth day of this rain- hit championship five strokes behind overnight co-leader Barnes, who was at seven under par and in thick rough at the second hole when play was suspended on Sunday night due to fading light.

Tied for third, Fisher had bogeyed his opening hole in the evening gloom on Long Island to drop to two under but Barnes followed suit to fall into a joint lead with Lucas Glover at seven under. When play resumed yesterday morning it was the first time since 1983 that a US Open had extended into an extra day to complete 72 holes. * With agencies