So, we’re getting a glimpse of golf’s main attraction once Tiger Woods discontinues using an iron stick and swings off a tee. Suddenly, Ricky Barnes is transcending to a climax, incredibly flourishing atop the leaderboard in Bethpage Black.
Looking stylish was Barnes, if considering a painter’s hat as a stylish fashion. But sex-appeal doesn’t coordinate an awe-inspiring 36-hole scoring record in the second round to card a total of 132 and currently stands eight under par.
Returning from a six-year vacation in paradise, Barnes arrived, emerging into a U.S. Open surprise and golf’s future, if he continues to have confidence and strokes falls into holes. He arrived for the challenge, awaking from hibernation in the beautiful Bethpage Black and has played brilliantly.
As it stands, he’s better than Tiger Woods, the world’s greatest golfer who was expected to defend his title and attain his 15th major title. But this is a coincidence, bringing back memories of Barnes as an amateur in the 2003 Masters.
That was memorable moments when he partnered and defeated Woods by seven strokes in the first round, giving reason to believe he was the next big attraction to strike in the golf world.
Consider this a reprievable charge back into the beautiful landscape. Consider this resilient mastery, having a chance to capture a U.S. Open at 28 years of age and blossom atop on golf’s biggest stage.
When he originally arrived and was introduce to the pro level, he was the tremendous phenom and anointed as the greatest to loom into contention, the next appealing star to awe our minds that there wasn’t only one powerful golfer on the globe.
At 21, Barnes accomplished a substantial win of Hunter Mahan and conquered the U.S. Amateur title. Now, he’s back in position to win the Open, leading one shot in front of Lucas Glover that was nearing an engrossing third round.
But it will have to wait until play resumes Sunday morning, after it was suspended when three horns sounded on Barnes' impressive evening because of rain that has interfered in competition.
The unfriendly elements could determine a winner, depending upon the heavy rains expected in Saturday night’s forecast, according to NBC’s meteorologist Al Roker. With heavy rains and scattered showers by morning in Farmingdale, the greens could pose problems on a slick surface, which makes it unplayable to exploit on the fairway.
Fortunately, Barnes wasn’t disturbed by the rain, able to complete his second round with three birdies in nine holes Saturday morning to awe us, overwhelmingly procuring a 65, before the greens submerged into a pond and umbrellas opened.
With Barnes’ uttermost performance in front of a crowd pulling for either Woods or Phil Mickelson, an inspiring lead wasn’t expected. He shockingly set a landmark for our own to eyes to witness that there’s more than two great players worth anointing.
Though, it’s not good to speak to soon, as it might evoke a jinx or even pressure for Barnes, testing his own will.
But he’s one confident and passionate individual, and could earn national attention. That’s a good result with him currently the 519th-ranked player in the world, but winning a title in the elements will mend inferiority, putting him among elite players.
Let’s get to know Barnes better. He’s a former Pac-10 freshman of the year and first-team All-American at Arizona, indeed excellent qualifications to endure a major event. Considering his defeat over Woods, logics mentions Barnes’ potential and endears a heartened player.
It doesn’t matter if he vanished and fled to a vacation spot, whether than spending time on the golf course. He knows that a long vacation battered his promising game, when he diminished in '06. He wasn’t no where to be found, finishing a subpar 26 on a list that attributed the top 25 for a PGA Tour card.
Now surprisingly, he has a chance to mitigate from sorrow, if he remains atop the leaderboard and pulls off the unthinkable to derail Woods of defending his title and Mickelson of emotionally obtaining an inspirational win for wife, Amy, in her battle with breast cancer, humanity that inspires our souls for embracing a touching ordeal. Meanwhile, we admire Tiger as the greatest golfer on the plant, rooting for him to capture another major in his prime.
But fact is, Barnes holding the lead is inclining to new heights in the Open, if he manages to control fate. Rebounding from a near-wasted career, finishing sorely 108t on the Nationwide Tour, logical to believe a propitious future was battered, not staying in contention to make cuts.
In each Open, he missed the cut, until now in good position to capture the Open, able to remain spiritual and ambitious. It’s a good indication, after struggling in the previous years that he could somehow levitate into limelight. And come to think, he already has with a sheer advantage nobody imagined.
I think it’s inspiring, and a quest to buoyancy, too.
