Lucas Glover insisted that kicking off his footwear throughout a latest PGA Tour occasion was to stop spike marks, reasonably than a silent protest in opposition to the AimPoint placing method.
The previous U.S. Open champion took off his footwear earlier than strolling throughout the water’s edge in his socks to retrieve his ball after draining a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-four tenth gap through the closing spherical of the 3M Open in Minnesota.
TV commentators instructed Glover eliminated his footwear as a type of protest in opposition to AimPoint, which critics say slows down the sport and damages greens.
However Glover, who has been a vocal critic of AimPoint, took to Instagram on Monday to set issues straight.
“My demonstration yesterday had nothing to do with Aimpoint. I have no idea 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 not make any marks around the hole. Again, no matter what type of spikes were on my shoes.”
Beginning in 2019, the US Golf Affiliation (USGA) and the R&A have allowed gamers to faucet down spike marks to revive the placing inexperienced again to its unique situation.
Glover mentioned he was approached by an official who mentioned there had been a criticism about spike marks being made across the holes. He additionally mentioned different golfers on the course had been carrying metallic spikes.
Lucas Glover took his footwear off on the inexperienced on the 3M Open
“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,” mentioned Glover.
“Yesterday was the first time I’ve ever been approached about my spikes.”
Glover, who counts the 2009 U.S. Open amongst his six PGA Tour titles, concluded his put up by saying he seems to be ahead to returning to competitors this week in Detroit and has no plans to alter his footwear.
“I’ll be wearing metal spikes, and the people playing behind me are still allowed to tap down the marks. Did I mention that?” mentioned Glover.
Who will win the AIG Girls’s Open? Watch all through the week reside on Sky Sports activities. Dwell protection of the opening spherical begins on Thursday with Featured Teams from 9am, forward of full protection from 1pm on Sky Sports activities Golf.
