Lucas Glover Explains 'Shoes Off' Moment at 3M Open

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Lucas Glover Explains 'Shoes Off' Moment at 3M Open

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Tony Marchese | Last updated Jul 28, 2026 5:37 PM ET

Lucas Glover has cleared up the viral moment from the final round of the 3M Open in which he took off his shoes on the green.

During Sunday’s round at TPC Twin Cities, Glover made a birdie putt on the 10th hole, then removed his golf shoes and walked to the cup in his socks to retrieve his ball. The unusual move quickly drew attention, with some assuming it was a protest against AimPoint, the green-reading method Glover has criticized in the past.

Glover said that the interpretation was wrong.

In a detailed social media post, the 2009 U.S. Open champion explained that a rules official approached him during the round to relay complaints from players behind his group about spike marks left by his metal spikes. The greens were soft and damp bentgrass, and Glover said it was the first complaint he had received in 23 years of wearing metal spikes on the PGA Tour.

“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,” Glover wrote. He added that the demonstration had “nothing to do with AimPoint.”

Glover also repeatedly noted that players are now allowed to tap down spike marks and that other competitors in nearby groups were also wearing metal spikes. He also expressed frustration that the incident distracted from Jackson Koivun’s first career PGA Tour victory.

Glover finished tied for 57th at the 3M Open and is scheduled to play this week’s Rocket Classic, and of course, he will still be wearing metal spikes.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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