FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Ricky Barnes and Lucas Glover in the final pairing of the U.S. Open?

It’s a storyline that looked as plausible at the beginning of the week at Bethpage Black as the grounds crew having to syringe the greens between groups just to keep them moist. Nonetheless, that was indeed the case when the two teed off Sunday evening in this disjointed Open that has seemingly squeezed starting times into every possible slot on your watch.

After playing just one hole in the fourth round Sunday evening, the unlikely duo will be the last ones on the course whenever this epic contest is completed. 
Dressed in plaid pants and his trademark painter’s cap in Sunday’s third round, it was clear that despite his relative obscurity, the carefree Californian Barnes had  been adopted by the raucous (granted, we’re talking golf standards here) galleries at Bethpage. Glover, who opened with a 3-over-par 38 but roared back with three birdies on the way in Sunday, got just a fraction of the applause.

“Hey, he’s got cooler pants than me,” Glover quipped. “I don’t think they are many people who think I can or will do it anyways, so that’s fine.”

Maybe so, but with over $9 million in tournament winnings in his brief five-year career on the TOUR, you are likely to get better odds in Vegas on Glover than his playing partner who has deposited just $68,000 and change into his bank account this year from the PGA and who remains on a first-name basis with every starter on the Nationwide Tour.

But Barnes is a big-stage guy. That first became evident in the 2002 U.S. Amateur where he cozied up a chip shot to within inches to defeat Hunter Mahan 2-and-1 on the 35th hole at Oakland Hills, and then again the following spring when he was paired with Woods at Augusta. Undaunted by playing next to the world's preeminent gallery magnet, he did not wilt like so many others have.  Instead, he left Woods in his wake. He shot 69-73 and was tied for third heading into the third round before finishing 21st.

Back then a U.S. Open final round pairing seemed right around the corner, but Barnes never could have guessed just how many corners there would be to round in this winding voyage. In the next five years he played predominantly on the Nationwide Tour before earning his card this year as he grabbed the last spot by finishing 25th on the money list. Suffice it to say, it’s not quite where he expected to be at this point in his career after his early exploits.

“I just thought I would have been on the PGA Tour a few more times,” he said. “This is my fifth Open, which probably would have suited me (back then), but I thought I would have been a full-time exempt player on the PGA Tour by now.”

Through all the qualifying schools and all the obscure Nationwide stops, the flashy smile and self-assured manner never changed. What has? His older brother Andy, who’s on his bag this week, says it’s more his perspective than anything else.

“Ricky has always been the kind of guy that wanted everything yesterday,” said Andy, who has caddied for Barnes in a couple dozen events, including the Masters and the U.S. Amateur. “I wouldn’t say he’s more mature, but he’s a lot more patient. He realizes how hard professional golf is.”

Andy Barnes knows that all too well. A former all-American at the University of Arizona, where he now serves as the assistant golf coach, he toiled in relative obscurity on the Canadian Tour but also jumped on the big stage on occasion. When he qualified for the U.S. Open in 1999 he turned the tables on his younger brother and handed him his bag. What kind of caddie was Ricky?

“Not very good,” Andy said with a chuckle. “The thing I remember was right on the first hole, Ricky's fumbling around with the yardage book...After my drive, we get to my ball and I asked Ricky what‘s the yardage. He says, 'One hundred sixty-something.' And I said, 'Really? I have 146.' He really didn't have a clue what it was. It was pretty funny.”

Following his two sons in the gallery this week at Bethpage has been Bruce Barnes. Barnes  knows a little bit about handling pressure, especially the kind that comes when you find yourself standing near or in your own end zone on a regular basis. The elder Barnes punted for the Pats in 1973 and 1974 at old Schaefer Stadium. Back then the beer line was a more popular vantage point than the 50-yard line in Foxboro and for and a young an aspiring punter it was a great place to test your toe early and often.

Ricky said that he regrets never being able to watch his dad rocket a few out of the end zone in Foxboro, but was quick to add that he’s a huge Chargers fan. Some 35 years later, Bruce Barnes will be back in the gallery today at Bethpage hoping that his son does not punt perhaps his only chance at etching his name into golf's history books.

The 519th ranked player in the world going for the game’s ultimate prize. In the words of one delirious Celtic from just about a year ago: anything is possible.

Bob Albright is the editor of North Shore Golf Magazine and a WEEI contributor. Check out his blog at www.northshoremassgolf.com/wordpress