PGA Tour veteran Lucas Glover has clarified why he took off his golf shoes on the 10th green during the final round of the 3M Open.
The incident occurred after a competitor complained about spike marks left by his metal spikes.
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Glover, who finished tied for 57th, made a nine-foot birdie putt before removing his shoes and retrieving his ball.
Spectators initially thought the gesture was aimed at players using the AimPoint green-reading technique.
In a social media post, the 2009 U. S.
Open champion set the record straight. "No, not even close.
Nothing to do with AimPoint actually," Glover said.
He explained that a player in a trailing group had singled him out for surface damage. "Complaints behind me about spike marks.
I wear metal. Someone in the group ahead of us was too," Glover added.
Glover described his action as a lighthearted response. "Singled me out.
Just goofing off," he said.
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Metal spikes have largely been replaced by soft cleats on modern tours due to the wear they cause on greens.
However, PGA Tour rules still allow players to repair spike marks along their putting line.
Past Spike Mark Disputes
The incident echoes a notable exchange at the 2005 Masters. Vijay Singh reported Phil Mickelson to tournament officials over concerns about his spike length.
Mickelson later issued a statement. "On the 13th hole, two officials approached me at two different times," he said.
"They were sent by Vijay to check my spikes because he felt they were unduly damaging the greens."
Mickelson expressed regret for any damage but noted the disruption.
"I was extremely distracted and would have appreciated if it would have been handled differently or after the round," he said.
The matter was resolved after Mickelson confronted Singh in the clubhouse. "He expressed his concerns.
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I expressed my disappointment with the way it was handled. I believe everything is fine now," Mickelson concluded.
