Lucas Glover doubles down after viral 3M Open shoe incident with lengthy statement

Lucas Glover has issued a lengthy statement on social media after his unusual decision to remove his golf shoes before retrieving his ball from the hole during the final round of the PGA Tour's 3M Open sparked widespread speculation.

The 2009 U.S. Open champion went viral on Sunday after television cameras caught him taking off his shoes on the 10th green at TPC Twin Cities before bending down to collect his ball.

Many fans initially believed Glover was making a pointed protest against AimPoint, the green-reading system he has repeatedly criticised for slowing down play on the PGA Tour, especially given his playing partner, Max Greyserman, is among a number of players who use the method.

However, Glover quickly dismissed that theory on Instagram after the round, insisting he was "just goofing off" after being told players behind his group had complained about spike marks.

Watch what happened here: 

"I wear metal [spikes]," Glover wrote.

"Someone in the group ahead of us was too. Singled me out. Just goofing off."

A day later, however, Glover expanded on the incident with a detailed statement (scroll down to read).

Glover explained he had been approached by a rules official during the round after complaints were made about his metal spikes damaging the greens.

"For 23 years on the PGA Tour I've worn spikes," Glover wrote.

"Yesterday was the first time I've ever had a complaint.

"Yesterday was the first time I've ever been approached about my spikes. In the middle of the round, by an official, not a player."

Glover questioned why the matter had been raised at all, pointing out he was not breaking any rules and that other players in surrounding groups were also wearing metal spikes.

He added that the bentgrass greens at TPC Twin Cities were particularly soft after watering ahead of forecast weather, meaning any type of golf shoe would have left impressions.

"I don't care what you wear on your feet, metal or soft spikes, in those conditions they are going to get beat up," he said.

"I did my best around the hole to tap down my damage as I was leaving the area.

"Have I mentioned that we can tap them down now? Or even fix a soft spike depression?"

Glover also firmly rejected suggestions that removing his shoes was intended as a swipe at AimPoint.

"My demonstration yesterday had nothing to do with AimPoint," he said.

"I have no idea how anyone came to that conclusion.

"I took my shoes off to get my ball out of the hole because that was literally the only way to not make any marks around the hole."

Glover, ranked 93rd in the world, also expressed frustration that the incident had also somewhat overshadowed Jackson Koivun's first PGA Tour victory in just his third professional start and 13th ever on the PGA Tour. 

"My biggest disappointment in all of this is that a small faction of people are talking too much about this non-issue instead of Jackson Koivun," Glover wrote.

Glover finished his statement with one final tongue-in-cheek message ahead of this week's Rocket Classic.

"Looking forward to The Rocket Classic this week. I'll be wearing metal spikes, and the people playing behind me are still allowed to tap down the marks. Did I mention that?"

Read Glover's statement in full here:

Glover's week ultimately ended in disappointment. 

After opening the tournament with a superb 6-under 65 that briefly put him among the early contenders, the former U.S. Open champion closed with a 1-over 72 on Sunday to finish at 5-under par, leaving him tied for 57th.

The 46-year-old now heads to Detroit Golf Club for this week's Rocket Classic needing a strong finish to the regular season. 

Glover currently sits 92nd in the FedEx Cup standings with only the Rocket Classic and Wyndham Championship remaining before the top 70 qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs.