MCCOLLUM'S COLUMN: Glover and Molder have walked similar paths for awhile

Relationships among the younger players in professional golf are not just formed on the beaten path.

Conway's Bryce Molder and Lucas Glover, the U.S. Open champion, go back to their days on national junior golf circuit at age 16 or 17.

Glover's mother, Hershey, and Molder's mother, Connie, walked many a fairway together as both were regulars at the junior events and many college tournaments.

Glover was a star golfer at Clemson University when Molder competed for Georgia Tech. Clemson and Georgia Tech were not only major Atlantic Coast Conference rivals but highly ranked teams nationally the years Glover and Molder played at those institutions. Glover and Molder competed for many a tournament championship and regularly for ACC Golfer of the Year honors.

In the midst of that rivalry, both golfers had a high respect for each other.

"Since I have known him (Glover), he has been exactly what you saw in the interviews this week a humble, confident, observant and polite young professional." said Bryce Molder's father, Barry Molder.

Interviews with Glover remind me a lot of interviews with Molder. Both are articulate, honest, classy and keenly aware of the context of their rounds.

Barry Molder says Bryce and Glover have had a good relationship throughout their careers, particularly in college. They played together in some college team events.

Glover gained status on the Nationwide Tour quicker, although Molder and Glover were on the Nationwide Tour for a year before Glover gained his PGA Tour card.

Both Glover and Molder are now married and their paths haven't crossed as frequently.

"Since Lucas has been on the regular tour for some time, he and Bryce haven't been that close, just because of the situation," Barry Molder said. "It's hard not to root for Lucas."

David Duval, who finished tied for Phil Mickelson for second in the Open, is, like Molder, a former star golfer at Georgia Tech. Duval, as one of the top pro golfers at the time, spent some time with Molder during breaks from the tour during Molder's senior year. Duval has always been known as a quiet guy, a loner, guarded in his relationshps and his comments. He and Molder have had only occasional contact in recent years.

If he continues his success, Glover could be a darling of fans and media on the PGA Tour. He's a prototype Southern country boy whose heart gravitates toward New York. He's an avid reader. He's similar to Boo Weekley but with more sophistication.

Both Molder and Glover have had their frustrations and struggles as pros. Failing in his goal of making the Ryder Cup team in 2008, Glover, frustrated, took the rest of the year off and rebuilt both his game and mental approach. Molder did a little of both last year on the Nationwide Tour, regaining his PGA Tour card he lost in 2007.

Molder, who did not qualify for the Open, finished in a tie for second recently at the St. Jude Classic at Memphis, his best achievement in eight years as a pro.

Glover's U.S. Open victory (he began as a 175-1 shot) is one of the dream achievements of any pro golfer.

In two weeks, we've seen a revival of two of the best golfers to ever play in the ACC, three if you include Duval.

Coincidental?

Maybe it's the result of a nice, triple-pronged restoration process.

(Sports columnist David McCollum can be reached at 505-1235 or david.mccollum@thecabin.net)