“Could Lucas Glover Secure a Spot in the Ryder Cup?”
Michael Kim, the winner of the 2018 John Deere Classic, shared this thought on Thursday afternoon. This sentiment would have been considered quite bold just a month ago. After all, Lucas Glover, who won the U.S. Open in 2009, started last week’s Wyndham Championship in the 64th position in the Ryder Cup standings.
However, everything changed when Glover emerged victorious at the Wyndham Championship, marking his first Tour win since 2021. This triumph propelled him to 35th place as he entered the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis. Moreover, the 43-year-old golfer shot an impressive 6-under 64 on Friday, claiming the top spot with a total of 10 under par as he headed into the third round on Saturday.
Following a sequence of three consecutive top-10 finishes in July, this surge of success for the golfer hailing from South Carolina is quite notable. This impressive streak has ignited a certain level of discourse regarding Lucas Glover’s unexpected potential to earn a spot on his inaugural Ryder Cup team, a subject that has gained attention.
The coveted opportunity to compete against the European team in the prestigious Ryder Cup will be extended to the leading six players in the Ryder Cup standings, alongside an additional six individuals personally selected by team captain Zach Johnson. The commencement of the Ryder Cup is scheduled for September 29 in Rome.
“Ah, that’s great,” Glover remarked. “His kind words are truly appreciated.”
Glover’s reaction perfectly captures his mindset ever since his exceptional streak commenced with a remarkable performance, resulting in a tied fourth-place finish last month at the Rocket Mortgage Classic held in Detroit. This impressive sequence of achievements marks a refreshing departure from the previous period. Before this resurgence, Glover’s most recent top-10 placement occurred in Memphis during 2022, where he secured a third-place tie at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
This shift in momentum is so striking that Glover finds it hard to recall a time when he performed at such a high level over an extended period. However, as a seasoned veteran, he now exercises caution in not becoming preoccupied with anything beyond the immediate task.
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“I’ve gained enough experience to recognize that fortunes can reverse swiftly as well,” he wisely commented. “Hence, I’m simply riding the current success without overanalyzing it. I’ll continue playing until the streak eventually ends, and then I’ll assess the situation.”
Expanding on this, following Friday’s round, Glover was questioned about any potential weak points in his current gameplay.
“Presently, not really,” Glover replied, his response tinged with a hint of reluctance. “While I’d need to ponder on it, I’ve been fairly sharp. My ability to read the greens was off yesterday, and today my putting speed was a bit amiss, so I suppose that’s a potential area of vulnerability.”
