Golf chief pushes back on Lucas Glover's cheating claim on PGA Tour

The chief executive of the United States Golf Association has pushed back on Lucas Glover's recent claim that PGA Tour players exploit a loophole when their drivers are tested. 

Glover told his radio show at the beginning of the week he is convinced several PGA Tour golfers don't hand over their gamers when they are tested for legality. 

The former U.S. Open champ suggested players give the USGA and R&A their backups instead and switch back before tournaments begin. 

Glover's insinuation is that golf tournaments are not being played on an equal playing field.

Making matters worse, Glover argued, is that not every golfer's driver head is tested.

He asked: "Why doesn't everybody get tested at every major? And why don't we somehow try to make sure it's the driver being used?"

Driver testing came into sharp focus during the 2025 PGA Championship after news leaked Rory McIlroy's TaylorMade Qi10 was deemed non-conforming. 

Test results are usually kept confidential. 

Whilst the PGA of America did not name McIlroy, a statement released during the second men's major of the year cleared the Northern Irishman - and others - of intent. 

McIlroy, 36, struggled to find the fairways at Quail Hollow and, despite making the cut on the number, did not mount a challenge for the Wanamaker Trophy. 

PGA Championship winner Scottie Scheffler revealed his driver also failed him but he was prepared for the scenario. 

USGA chief executive Mike Whan spoke about the topic ahead of the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills. 

He said players receive coloured cards after clubs are tested to inform them how close their drivers are to the limit. 

"PGA Championship week was not an abnormal week, an abnormal approach," Whan explained. 

"One of the reasons, honestly, we keep that confidential is because of what happened [with Rory]. 

"Everyone starts talking about there was this incredible moment.

"The PGA Tour has asked us, as did the PGA of America, to help them with that. It's difficult for a player to know. 

"It's even difficult for a manufacturer to keep a calibrated machine that will calibrate with us. 

"So we provide that service to them just so they know when it's over."

Addressing Glover's claim, Whan said the USGA tracks serial numbers on the clubs.

"90 per cent of the drivers that were given to us in those practice facilities when we test are played on the first tee, and we expect 10 per cent of players to be making changes anyway," he said.

He continued: "I don't think that’s a real concern for us. 

"The biggest thing is we try to keep the whole testing process kind of low key because players know it's coming. They see us coming. They give us the driver if we tell them. 

"It seemed like a big week to everybody else, but for us it was a pretty standard week. 

"We've tested a lot of Tour events and other majors, so it wasn't that abnormal for us. It just seemed to get abnormal coverage."