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 PGA Professional Mike Taylor celebrated his 46th birthday by hopping on a plane at 7 a.m. Monday bound for New York, in the hopes of witnessing some personal golf history.
A little more than six hours later, his wish came true when his student, Lucas Glover, captured the 109th U.S. Open at the famed Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y. Glover is the first protégé of Taylor, who has taught at Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga., for 20 years, to capture a major Championship.
"It was pretty emotional," described Taylor, whose plane landed at 9:30 a.m., in time for him to catch Glover at the turn during the dramatic final round. "I am so proud of Lucas, especially after he doubled the very first hole of the tournament. I told him on Sunday night to do the right thing, and stay patient. There will be ups and downs, but just stay focused through it all."
On Sunday night, Taylor spoke to Glover, encouraging him to keep things basic and to maintain the high level of concentration that he had demonstrated throughout the week. "He had simple thoughts," said Taylor, who was elected to PGA membership in 1997. "I could tell by the way he played that he was focused."
Taylor, who has worked with Glover since 2007, spent Monday through Thursday of last week at the U.S. Open, before traveling approximately 925 miles back home for the weekend. Sunday, he got a call from Glover's management team, encouraging him to leave on Monday morning for a chance to watch Glover etch his name among golf's major Champions.
In the months leading up to the U.S. Open, Taylor has worked to remove a "curve" that he said he detected in Glover's swing.
"We took out the curve, and it straightened his drives and got his swing on plane - it wound up helping his irons, too." Glover is currently ranked No. 1 on the PGA Tour in total driving (distance and accuracy combined).
Taylor said that he kept discussion about mechanics to a minimum as he helped Glover throughout the week.
"We talked about the golf course, strategy, the weather and the importance of having a good attitude. I could see he was real confident, having fun and hitting the ball really great. I felt like at Charlotte (at the Quail Hollow Championship, where Glover finished in 3rd place), he was close to getting a win. Lucas has always had talent, and he practices so hard. He expects a lot of himself."
The realization that the first of his top students, Taylor also teaches the likes of Tour players Boo Weekley and Brian Bateman, had captured a major championship just began to sink in moments after he watched the presentation ceremony on the 18th green at Bethpage Black.
"It feels good," Taylor said. "Lucas gets the credit, and he deserves it. We're good friends and that makes for a good team."
As for the 11th-hour flight to witness Glover enter the annals of golf lore, Taylor knew it was worth the trip.
"I wouldn't have missed it for anything."
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