Detroit — First, off came the shoes.
Then, off came the gloves — well, at least, what passes for that in the mostly congenial world of professional golf.
Longtime PGA Tour player Lucas Glover expressed annoyance with a fellow pro — or pros — on Monday when he clarified the strange incident that happened during Sunday’s final round of the 3M Open in Minnesota. After making a birdie putt on the 10th hole at TPC Twin Cities, Glover turned around, walked back to the collar of the green and removed his golf shoes before walking back to the hole to retrieve his ball.
Glover then walked off the green in his socks, carrying his shoes. The clip of the incident quickly went viral.
In a statement Monday, Glover explained his reasoning. It turns out, a player — or players — had complained to a tournament official that Glover’s metal spikes were causing damage to the greens, around the holes.
It was a complaint that didn’t seem to sit well with Glover, given he’s not the only PGA Tour player still wearing metal spikes, and given the players now are allowed to tap down or fix any marks left by metal spikes (as well as impressions left by soft spikes) before putting.
“For 23 years on the PGATour I’ve worn spikes. 23 years ago, most of us did. It hasn’t been that long since were NOT allowed to tap them down. Yesterday was the first time I’ve ever had a complaint,” Glover said in a seven-paragraph Instagram post Monday afternoon, explaining his actions Sunday. “I know there have been some pretty heated discussions and arguments between players in years past about spike marks and knowing how to walk, but not since we’ve been able to tap them down. Yesterday was the first time I’ve ever been approached about my spikes. In the middle of a round, by an official, not a player. First of all, it’s not the officials place. I wasn’t breaking any rules. Secondly, there were people in the groups in front of me and behind me wearing metal spikes as well.
“The greens at 3M are bent grass, were soft, and appeared to have been watered a fair amount (because of the forecast I’d imagine). I don’t care what you wear on your feet, metal or soft spikes, in those conditions they are going to get beat up. I did my best around the hole to tap down my damage as I was leaving the area.
“Have I mentioned that we can tap them down now?”
Most golfers now wear soft, or plastic spikes, but some still prefer the old-school metal spikes, either out of habit, or believing they provide more stability. It used to be that golfers were not allowed to repair spike marks on greens before they putted, but now they can fix them or tap them down, ever since a 2019 change to the official rules of golf.
It was a point Glover’s Instagram post made no fewer than four times.
“Have I mentioned we can tap them down now?” he wrote, again.
The immediate speculation during Sunday’s TV broadcast was that Glover was protesting the rampant use of Aimpoint, a green-reading technique increasingly used by golfers these days. Fellow PGA Tour pro Michael Kim went on social media Sunday to provide the first explanation of what Glover actually was doing.
Kim also pointed out on social media that, “We can fix spike marks now.”
Glover, 46, finished tied for 57th at the 3M Open, yet ended up becoming a big part of the story.
He regretted that, when there was a much bigger story Sunday — the emergence of 21-year-old Jackson Koivun, who won the 3M Open in just his third PGA Tour start as a professional.
“My biggest disappointment in all of this, is that a small faction of people are talking too much about this, a non issue, instead of Jackson Koivun,” said Glover, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour, including the 2009 U.S. Open. “Looking forward to the Rocket Classic this week.
“I’ll be wearing metal spikes, and the people playing behind me are still allowed to tap down the marks.
“Did I mention that?”
Glover, Kim and Koivun all are in this week’s 147-player Rocket Classic field, which you can see HERE.
The Rocket Classic starts Thursday at Detroit Golf Club.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Lucas Glover explains why he took off his golf shoes at 3M Open
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tony Paul, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
