Lucas Glover was asked to describe the weather on a hot, humid Friday afternoon in Memphis.
“I didn’t get this wet in the shower this morning,” he said.
About the only thing hotter than Memphis in August is Glover’s game of late. The 43-year-old five-time PGA Tour winner fired a 6-under 64 at TPC Southwind in the second round and grabbed the 36-hole lead at 10-under 130. He also improved to 30 under in his last six rounds while making just five bogeys during that span.
Glover won the Wyndham Championship on Sunday to vault from No. 112 in the FedEx Cup point standings to 49th and make the playoffs. After going low again and with the points awarded to the winner this week bumped up from 500 to 2,000, he’s projected to jump to third.
On Friday, Glover hit 14 greens, leads the field through two rounds in Strokes Gained: Approach and gained almost six shots on the field with his ball striking.
“It’s just kind of a carryover from the last few weeks. Just trying not to overcomplicate things and just make good, positive swings and stay aggressive. It’s one of those where you just want to keep playing. You’re playing well, keep going,” said the 19-year veteran. “I’m old enough to know it can change the other way in a hurry, too, so kind of ride the wave and just don’t over think it, keep going, and play until it runs out and then figure it out after that.”
Despite feeling that the greens were a little slower than the practice green and taking a few holes to adjust, Glover made over 100 feet of putts in the second round.
Glover has credited Jason Kuhn, a former baseball pitcher who dealt with the yips and a Navy Seal, with helping him overcome his decade-long battle with the putting yips. In May, Glover’s longtime agent Mac Barnhardt, connected the two. Kuhn had helped Atlanta Braves pitcher Tyler Matzek overcome his own issues with the yips. Also contributing to his putting revival: Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open, switched to a long putter and a split-handed grip that he says has re-wired his brain.
“Confidence is high,” Glover said. “Putting seems to be an asset instead of a weakness.”
Here are four more things to know about the second round of the 2023 FedEx St. Jude Championship.