During the final round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 26, 2026, veteran golfer Lucas Glover removed his shoes on the 10th green after sinking a birdie putt. While initial broadcasts and social media speculated it was a protest against the AimPoint putting technique, Glover and the PGA Tour clarified it was a lighthearted response to complaints about his metal spikes.
When Lucas Glover walked off the 10th green at TPC Twin Cities on Sunday afternoon, he left behind more than just a made putt. After converting a 10-foot birdie attempt during the final round of the 3M Open in Minnesota, the six-time Tour winner unlaced and removed both of his shoes before reaching into the cup to retrieve his golf ball, walking away in his socks as spectators and television commentators watched in bewilderment.
The unusual scene instantly ignited online speculation and broadcast commentary. Open champion was staging a direct protest against the AimPoint green-reading technique, a system that utilizes players’ feet to gauge the slope and break of a putting surface. Glover has long been an outspoken critic of the method, frequently arguing on radio broadcasts that it drags down the pace of play.
How the AimPoint Narrative Spread Across Broadcasts
The leap to an AimPoint protest made logical sense to analysts tracking the tournament. Glover was paired during the final round with Max Greyserman, a player who utilizes the feel-based green-reading system. For years, Glover has voiced strong reservations about the time it takes players to calculate putts using their feet, contending that the physical assessment near the hole disrupts the putting surface.
“Statistically, [AimPoint] hasn’t helped anybody make more putts since its inception on the PGA Tour. Statistics have borne that out. It’s also kind of rude to be up near the hole, stomping around figuring out where the break is in your feet. It needs to be banned. It takes forever.”
Lucas Glover, via GOLF
The Real Backstory Behind SpikeMarkGate at TPC Twin Cities
The narrative unraveled hours after the conclusion of the round. A Tour spokesperson clarified the situation via a text message statement to the media, explaining that the golfer’s actions were entirely non-confrontational regarding green-reading methods.
Lucas had been asked to be mindful of his spike marks on the green and was trying to be lighthearted,
the PGA Tour statement read.
Glover himself filled in the remaining details through social media interactions and comments given to GolfChannel.com. He explained that competitors playing directly behind his group had complained to a rules official about shoe impressions left on the soft, damp bentgrass greens at TPC Twin Cities.
Because Glover wears traditional metal spikes—as did another player in the group directly ahead—he felt singled out by the complaints. Rules officials notified him of the issue, prompting the theatrical removal of his footwear.
“There were some complaints about my metal spikes marking up the greens from some guys behind me. Rules official notified me. Was just being silly, there’s no way to not mark up soft, damp bent greens. Oh, and we can tap down spike marks now.”
Lucas Glover, via Golf Channel
Fellow professional Michael Kim corroborated the sequence of events on X, noting that officials addressed Glover over marks left on the putting surface before the golfer responded with humor.
Tournament Aftermath and Upcoming Leadership Role
The levity on the 10th hole was immediately followed by a sharp downturn on the scorecard. Glover stumbled on the very next hole, recording a triple bogey on the 11th. He finished the week outside the top 50 in a tie for 57th place, following up an opening-round 65 with consecutive rounds of 70, 72, and 72.
Glover’s public commentary on Tour operations is set to transition from media broadcasts to official board governance. Earlier in the season, he was chosen for the Tour Player Advisory Council and subsequently elected as its chairman. That position will place him on the PGA Tour board as a player director for a three-year term starting in 2027, replacing Adam Scott.
The transition aligns with Glover’s decision earlier this year to end his SiriusXM radio show, where he frequently debated circuit regulations and equipment standards. Reflecting on that departure to Golfweek in March, Glover noted that the program had drifted from lighthearted discussion into recurring grievances about tour administration. Sunday in Minnesota proved that while his radio microphone is off, his inclination toward theatrical commentary on the course remains fully intact.
Worth a look
