Lucas Glover caused a stir during the final round of the 3M Open when he removed his shoes after sinking a birdie putt. TV commentators initially speculated that the PGA Tour pro was protesting the AimPoint green-reading system used by many players. But Glover set the record straight on Instagram Monday, revealing a different reason: he was trying to prevent his metal spikes from damaging the greens, following a complaint from a rules official.
"Alright, let's clear this up," Glover wrote in a lengthy statement. He explained that after being told his spike marks were an issue, he decided to take off his shoes to retrieve his ball from the hole and avoid further marks. The lighthearted explanation quickly spread, with fans amused by the unusual on-course moment.
Glover's shoe removal was not a protest but a practical, if comical, solution. The 3M Open, held at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, saw Glover finish in the top 10. His Instagram post set the record straight, turning a moment of speculation into a funny footnote in PGA Tour lore.