RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesFormer U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover bizarrely took off his shoes after making a putt during the final round of the 3M Open on Sunday afternoon, and his lengthy explanation as to why he did so did not disappoint.
Glover, who went on to finish T-57 in the PGA Tour event in Minnesota, sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole during the final round. Instead of simply walking to the cup to retrieve his golf ball, he first walked over to the fringe around the green, slid off his shoes, and then approached the hole to grab his golf ball from the cup.
It was an odd moment, to say the least.
JACKSON KOIVUN ARRIVES IN STYLE, LUCAS GLOVER TAKES OFF HIS SHOES, AND THE GREATEST GOLF DAD MOMENT
While Golf Channel, along with the majority of others out there, assumed that Glover was peacefully protesting the AimPoint green-reading system many players implement these days, which he is admittedly not a fan of, his removal of shoes wasn't a protest at all.
In fact, Glover was ultimately respecting the players behind him.
The PGA Tour later confirmed that Glover had been asked to be "mindful" of his spike marks on the green. The removal of his shoes before picking up his golf ball was certainly one way of doing that, especially given that he wears metal spikes.
Despite the Tour stating that Glover removing his shoes had everything to do with his spike marks, he wanted to clear the air even further, and did so in hilarious fashion.
"Alright, let’s clear this up. 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. Yesterday was the first time I’ve ever had a complaint," Glover's hilariously lengthy statement on Instagram began.
"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 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," the statement continued.
"Have I mentioned that we can tap them down now? Or even fix a soft spike depression? My demonstration yesterday had nothing to do with Aimpoint. I have no idea how anyone came to that conclusion. I took my shoes off to get my ball out of hole because that was literally the only way to not make any marks around the hole. Again, no matter what type of spikes were on my shoes. Have I mentioned that we can tap them down now?
"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 Koivin .
"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," the statement concluded.
And that, friends, is how you make a statement about what is ultimately a huge non-story, but still a unique situation, nonetheless.
Glover's countless reminders that players can indeed tap down spike marks during play is a chef's kiss.
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