Uhhh, Lucas Glover for the Ryder Cup?
That’s what Michael Kim − the 2018 John Deere Classic winner − tweeted Thursday afternoon. A sentiment that would have been a scorching hot take this time a month ago. After all, Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open champ, began play at last week’s Wyndham Championship ranked 64th in the Ryder Cup standings.
But, then, Glover won the Wyndham Championship, his first Tour victory since 2021. It propelled him to 35th entering the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis. Then, the 43-year-old shot 6-under 64 Friday to grab the solo lead at 10 under entering Saturday’s third round.
All this is on the heels of back-to-back-to-back top-10 finishes in July for the South Carolina native. A torrid stretch that has sparked at least some conversation about Glover’s unlikely candidacy to represent his country making his first Ryder Cup team. The top six players in the Ryder Cup standings will be part of the prestigious event against the Europeans, along with six others chosen by team captain Zach Johnson. The Ryder Cup begins Sept. 29 in Rome.
Glover has an account on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. But he said Friday he can’t remember the last time he logged on. His only activity on the platform since June 2021 is a post about Starbucks. So, he had not seen nor heard word of Kim’s campaign efforts.
“Oh, cool,” said Glover. “That’s very nice of him to say.”
Glover’s response is an apt encapsulation of his approach since his lights-out run began when he tied for fourth last month at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. The same string of success is a welcome change of pace from the stretch that preceded it. Prior to that, Glover’s last top-10 finish was in Memphis in 2022, when he tied for third at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
It’s such a change of pace that Glover can’t remember ever playing so well for so long. But, now a savvy veteran, he’s careful not to get bogged down by looking at much more than what’s right in front of him.
“I’m old enough to know it can change the over way in a hurry, too,” he said. “So, kind of, ride the wave and just don’t overthink it. Keep going, and play until it runs out and, then, figure it out after that.”
To that point, Glover was asked after Friday’s round whether there’s a weakness in his game right now.
“No, not right now,” Glover said almost reluctantly. “I’d like to − I’d have to think about it, but I’ve been pretty sharp. I didn’t read the greens well yesterday and my speed was off today, so that’s a weakness, I guess.”