Former US Open champion Lucas Glover revealed his reason for a bizarre action during the final round of the 3M Open in Minnesota over the weekend.
Glover was taking part in the competition when he took his shoes off on the tenth hole when he reached the green.
After rolling in a ten-foot putt for birdie, Glover walked off the green and removed his shoes before walking over to the hole and retrieving his ball from the cup.
It was a strange occurrence and many viewers and golf pundits believed that Glover was protesting the growing popularity of the Aimpoint putting technique – a method for reading greens that involves players using their feet to feel the slope.
Instead, it turns out, Glover was taking issue with repeated complaints about spike marks that he was leaving on greens.
Glover posted to his Instagram account about the incident, writing a statement to ‘clear this up’ for all the guessers.
Former US open champion Lucas Glover caused a stir with a bizarre display at the 3M Open
After draining his putt, Glover took his shoes off and then walked on the green in his socks
Glover revealed this was a result of complaints about his spike marks on the greens
‘For 23 years on the PGA Tour, I’ve worn spikes. 23 years ago, most of us did. It hasn’t been that long since we were NOT allowed to tap them down,’ Glover posted.
‘Yesterday was the first time I’ve ever had a complaint. I know there have been some pretty heated discussions and arguments between other 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 the round, by an official, not a player. First of all, it’s not the official’s 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? Or even fix a soft spike depression?’
Glover went on to mention, multiple times, that players are allowed to tap down spike marks. He also clarified, ‘My demonstration yesterday had nothing to do with Aimpoint. I have no idea how anyone came to that conclusion.’
After an opening round 65 at TPC Twin Cities, Glover finished outside the top 50 by carding a second-round 70 and both third and fourth round scores of 72.
