The reality of friend's big win is way better than any dream

Things like this don't ever happen.

I mean, you dream they'll happen, but even in the dream you kind of know it's a stretch.

But then one of your best friends wins the U.S. Open by two shots and you're speechless. Absolutely lost. Should I call him? Text him? (I chose both.) In the haze that follows, you make another call to one of your work buddies to share your happiness and that's when it hits you: Oops. I was supposed to be sick today.

Eh, big deal. So I called in sick with the stomach flu so I could watch my boy Lucas Glover play in the final group of the 109th U.S. Open and got caught lying about it. You know what? I think I'm OK with being called a liar. Just as long as they address me as "that liar who knows a U.S. Open champion."

From the moment the golf came on TV Monday morning I was glued to the screen. Watching, hoping with all my heart that my childhood pal from Greenville would bring home the trophy (mainly because then we'd get to drink beer out of it). Now did I think he was going to win? Let's see, how can I put this tactfully? Hell no.

But then again, I'm that guy who anytime he hears a fire truck assumes they're driving to his house. So I'm not exactly the cornerstone of positivity here. But I'll tell you this much: I never stopped having faith.

And as he made the final putt on the 72nd hole I honest to God felt like I had won the U.S. Open myself. That's because Lucas is an amazing guy and a good friend. Throughout the years we've stayed close. Whether it's via e-mail, text or the occasional times we're both home in Greenville at the same time, we try to catch up. But my favorite Lucas memory is going to Hilton Head for the Verizon Heritage every year to caddy for him in the Wednesday pro-am. What I love so much about doing that is I get to spend a full day with my friend in the setting we both love: the golf course. And out there it's always the same thing: Me, Lucas, and maybe six people in the gallery. (If you count his mom and wife.) In fact, it was always a running joke between the two of us that more people knew who I was than him.

But that all changed Monday afternoon. By winning the U.S. Open, arguably one of the most coveted trophies in all of professional golf, Lucas has entered a completely different stratosphere of golf royalty. I still can't believe he did it. I mean, Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson was supposed to win that tournament, right? Not Lucas Glover. Not the guy who I once hid a book titled "How To Break 90" in his golf bag as a joke. (He later admitted he found it during a tournament and immediately knew who put it in there.)

So right now I'm on cloud nine. I really wish I was up in New York to celebrate with him. On Saturday night I was so close to pulling the trigger on a plane ticket until my wife reminded me of a tiny, little detail she referred to as "our first wedding anniversary." So I made the wise decision to stay at home instead and watch it on TV. But even though I'm 800 miles away, I'm still celebrating in New York style. Sure I might not be drinking beer out of a silver trophy, but I'm pretty sure there's some of that anniversary champagne left over in the fridge.

Way to go Lucas. This is way better than a dream.

Bryce Donovan is a features reporter for The Post and Courier. Reach him at 937-5938 or bdonovan@postandcourier.com.