He's back for more
Lancaster to give Open another shot
By KEN FIDLIN -- Toronto Sun
ANCASTER -- On the morning after, Neal Lancaster's dad stopped by the house just to make sure his boy didn't have access to any sharp objects.
After all, it's not every day you get a chance to witness your son, the professional golfer, come totally unglued in front of millions on international television.
"I'd been awake most of the night," Lancaster said yesterday, recalling his nightmarish finish at the 2002 Canadian Open. The Reader's Digest version is that Lancaster came to the final hole at Angus Glen Golf Club with a two-shot lead, needing just a bogey to win his first tournament in eight years. Since he had made only one bogey all week, you had to like his chances.
Then, from the middle of the 72nd fairway, he proceeded to hit a haywire approach, make double bogey and lose a playoff to John Rollins, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. It was a meltdown almost as excruciating to witness as it was to experience.
Minutes later, Lancaster was high-tailing it for home, back to Smithfield, N.C., where he spent a long, reflective night replaying it all in his mind. Safe to say there were some adult beverages involved.
"So it's morning now and here comes my dad to put it all in perspective," Lancaster said yesterday on the steps of Hamilton Golf and Country Club.
"He said 'Son, just be thankful you weren't driving a race car or flying a plane because you sure woulda killed a lot of people.' "
As unnatural disasters go, this was positively Van de Velde-ian, but don't weep for Neal Lancaster. He doesn't believe the Canadian Open owes him anything.
"Especially it doesn't owe me the $352,000 US I won," he said with a smile.
Good point. Indeed, Lancaster came to Canada last year at this time scuffling to earn enough money to maintain his playing privileges. By finishing second, he easily qualified to keep his card and was able to take a few weeks off, a career first.
"When I look back on it, sure I gave the tournament away on that last hole but, the way I played all week, I should have been able to make a 10 or a 12 on that hole and still win," Lancaster said. "That's how good I played. I think I made one bogey but I putted horribly. I was 18 under par (before the fateful double-bogey) and I didn't make one putt. I should have had a seven- or eight-shot lead going into that hole.
"It's hard not to say that it bothers you. It would bother anybody. I don't know how a guy like Greg Norman could still persevere (after blowing a five-shot lead at the Masters).
"But, it's like my dad also said, if I'd double-bogeyed the first hole and made birdie at the last to get in the playoff, you wouldn't think a thing about it. All I know is I'd like to be in that position every week."
As painful as the experience was, Lancaster figures some good things came out of it. He now has a much greater appreciation of, and craving for, the big moment.
"It took me 14 years to realize that's the position you want to be in. It's no fun when you barely make the cut, playing for 70th place on Sunday. That's not where you want to be. You want to be in position to win.
"I never realized that until I lost the Canadian Open last year."
Now, Lancaster hasn't exactly torn up the tour this year. Indeed, he comes to Hamilton in much the same spot he usually finds himself at this time of year: 113th on the money list, probably needing to make another $100,000 or more before the end of the year to keep his card safe.
"I had a horrible start, missing eight of the first nine cuts by one shot, but the last few weeks I've been playing a lot better."
He made $25,400 this past weekend in Boston with a 32nd-place tie and is hoping to get a boost from the Canadian crowd which was rather taken with him last year.
"I'm sure, now that I'm here, people will embrace me and remember it."
Remember it? Who could possibly forget?
And, come to think of it, how could a guy named Lancaster fail in Ancaster?
