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Lucas Glover insisted that the purpose of kicking his shoes off during a recent PGA Tour event was to prevent spike marks, rather than a silent protest against MPoint placement techniques.
The former US Open champion took off his shoes before walking along the water’s edge in his socks to retrieve his ball after draining a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-four 10th hole during the final round of the 3M Open in Minnesota.
TV commentators suggested that Glover removed his shoes as a protest against the aimpoint, which critics say slows the game and damages the greens.
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Lucas Glover takes off his shoes after making a putt at the 3M Open.
But Glover, who has been a vocal critic of AmPoint, took to Instagram on Monday to set things straight.
“My protest yesterday had nothing to do with Aimpoint. I don’t know how anyone came to that conclusion,” Glover wrote.
“I took my shoes off to get my ball out of the hole because that was literally the only way to leave no marks around the hole. Again, no matter what kind of spikes were in my shoes.”
Beginning in 2019, the United States Golf Association (USGA) and R&A allowed players to tap the spike marks to restore the green to its original condition.
Glover said he was contacted by an officer who said spike marks were allegedly forming around the hole. He also said other golfers on the course were wearing metal spikes.
Lucas Glover takes off his shoes on the green at the 3M Open
“I know there’s been a lot of heated discussion and debate among other players over the years about spike marks and knowing how to walk, but not since we’ve been able to tape them,” Glover said.
“Yesterday was the first time I was contacted about my spike.”
Glover, who counts the 2009 US Open among his six PGA Tour titles, concluded his post by saying he is looking forward to returning to competition in Detroit this week and has no plans to change his shoes.
“I will wear metal spikes, and people playing behind me are still allowed to tap the signs. Did I mention that?” Glover said.
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