Lucas Glover raised a few eyebrows Sunday during the 3M Open in Minnesota when he took off his shoes on the 10th hole before retrieving his ball following a putt.
Glover had just converted a 10-foot putt for birdie when he walked off the green and took off his shoes before going over to grab his ball out of the cup.
Initially, it had been reported that Glover was protesting the Aimpoint putting technique, which is a feel-based technique that sees players use their feet to get a sense of the slope of the green.
The broadcast suggested that was the case, as did online speculation, but the PGA Tour put out a statement that “Lucas had been asked to be mindful of his spike marks on the green and was trying to be lighthearted.”
Glover had also shot down the narrative in comments on social media and to Golf Channel’s website.
“No, not even close. Nothing to do with Aimpoint actually,” he wrote in the comments on social media.
“Complaints behind me about spike marks. I wear metal. Someone in the group ahead of us was too. Singled me out. Just goofing off.”
He reiterated that in comments to Golf Channel.
“There were some complaints about my metal spikes marking up the greens from some guys behind me,” Glover said. “Rules official notified me. Was just being silly, there’s no way to not mark up soft, damp bent greens. Oh, and we can tap down spike marks now.”
Glover finished the tournament at TPC Twin Cities outside the top 50 after shooting an opening-round 65, following it up by shooting 70-72-72.
He didn’t do himself any favors by recording a triple bogey on the 11th hole.
