Lucas Glover Shoeless at 3M Open: 2009 U.S. Open Winner Addresses Spike Dispute

Lucas Glover finished the 3M Open tied for 57th at 5 under par after a final-round incident where he walked to the 10th hole in socks.

Jackson Koivun secured his first PGA Tour victory at the 3M Open with a tournament-record 25-under 259 total, punctuated by a closing 5-under 66 to defeat world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Amidst this record-setting performance at TPC Twin Cities, 46-year-old Lucas Glover finished the event tied for 57th place at 5 under par. During Sunday's final round, Glover generated significant attention after sinking a birdie putt on the 10th hole, subsequently removing his shoes and walking to the cup in his socks to retrieve the ball.

On Monday, July 27, 2026, the 2009 U.S. Open champion utilized his Instagram account to clarify that his actions were not a protest against the AimPoint green-reading system. Instead, Glover explained that the decision was a direct response to complaints regarding the marks his metal spikes were allegedly leaving on the bent grass surfaces. An official approached Glover in the middle of his round to relay these concerns, though the golfer noted that no fellow competitors had spoken to him directly about the issue.

Conditions at TPC Twin Cities

Glover described the greens at the 3M Open as soft and heavily watered, likely due to the weather forecast. He asserted that in such conditions, the turf would be impacted regardless of whether a player wore metal or soft spikes. The veteran pro, who has utilized metal spikes for all 23 years of his PGA Tour career, pointed out that several other players in the groups both ahead of and behind him were also wearing metal hardware.

Fellow competitor Michael Kim corroborated the sequence of events on X, stating that rules officials approached Glover after receiving complaints that a player with metal spikes was not walking cleanly. Glover countered that he did his best to tap down any damage before leaving the area around the hole. He emphasized that current rules allow players to tap down spike marks, a regulation that was not in place when he began his career over two decades ago.

Refuting AimPoint Protest Theories

Television commentators had speculated during the broadcast that Glover’s shoeless walk was a statement against AimPoint users who stand near the line of a putt. Glover dismissed these claims entirely, stating he had no idea how anyone reached that conclusion. He maintained that removing his footwear was the only way to ensure he made no further marks around the hole after being confronted by the official.

Glover expressed frustration that the narrative surrounding his footwear overshadowed the achievement of rookie Jackson Koivun. He labeled the incident a "non-issue" and voiced disappointment that a small faction of people focused on his shoes rather than the tournament winner's historic 25-under-par performance.

Looking Ahead to the Rocket Classic

Despite the controversy at TPC Twin Cities, Glover confirmed he has no intention of changing his equipment for his next start. He is currently in the field for the upcoming Rocket Classic hosted at Detroit Golf Club. Glover stated emphatically that he will continue to wear metal spikes during the event, reminding critics that those playing behind him retain the right to tap down any marks left on the putting surfaces.

The incident remains a rare moment of friction regarding traditional metal spikes, which Glover noted were the standard for most of the field when he joined the tour 23 years ago. He concluded his Monday statement by reiterating that he was not breaking any rules and that the intervention by officials was, in his view, misplaced.