Major winner confronted by PGA Tour players over AimPoint comments

Former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover has revealed his comments calling for AimPoint to be permanently banned on the PGA Tour didn't go down too well with some members.

Last February, Glover outlined a nine-point plan to improve pace of play on the PGA Tour after the issue was brought into sharp focus when CBS on-course commentator Dottie Pepper criticised some players for dawdling during the Farmers Insurance Open.

Pepper called for "respect" after some groups took nearly six hours to navigate Torrey Pines in San Diego. 

As the issue dominated the news cycle, Glover outlined his nine-point plan to improve pace-of-play.

He called for rangefinders to be permitted, the implementation of designated bunker rankers, scrapping sign bearers and reducing the amount of golf carts on the course. 

Glover also told some golfers to simply understand the rules better. 

But top of his list appeared to be the controversial green-reading technique which appears to drive some viewers potty. 

"Statistically, Aim Point] hasn't helped anybody make more putts since its inception on the PGA Tour," Glover previously said. 

"Statistics have borne that out. It's also kind of rude to be up near the hole, stomping around figuring out where the break is in your feet. 

"It needs to be banned. It takes forever."

Glover, who ended his popular radio show in March because he felt like he was always complaining, recently hopped on the Trey Wingo podcast where he was asked whether he still wants AimPoint scrapped. 

And it appears his views have softened, a tad. 

He said: "When I made those comments, I had a couple of guys the next week in Phoenix come up to me and say, 'hey man, are you talking about me?' 

"I said no, I'm not talking about anybody that does it quickly. I said, by the way, that's not why you're a great putter. You’re a great putter because you’re starting it where you're looking.

"I see these people stepping all over the green and each other's lines from two feet. 

"It's very frustrating, but we’re all out here trying to do the same thing and that's trying to get the ball in the hole as quickly as possible. 

"And if that helps people, great. It's not for me to tell them they can or cannot do it, but it is up to the players to monitor our pace sometimes.

"That's where I got frustrated a couple of years ago with those comments. Sometimes it just takes too long for somebody to get ready to hit it."

What was Glover's nine-point plan?

Course markings: 

"Every sprinkler head should be marked, not by a Tour caddie that's walking the course on Monday. This should be up to the Tour or the tournament, so that a caddie that gets in a weird spot or a player that gets in a weird spot isn't hunting for yardage. That takes time.” 

Distance-measuring devices: 

"They can only help. Not everyone will use them all the time but it sure would help given the option."

Bunker rakers: 

"Every group needs a raker. Just like the Open Championship. Have someone in each group rake the bunkers. Proper caddies take a lot of time and do an unbelievable job, as they should and as they need to, but it can cause backups."

No honorary observers: 

"Tour's not going to like this but: honorary observers. Honorary observers are a couple people that the Tour puts in a group to walk inside of the ropes that probably work for the sponsor or are a guest of the sponsor. Guess what? They get in the way. They don't know where to walk off of the greens, they don't know where to stand. A lot of times the group behind is waiting on them."

Scrap sign bearers: 

"Everybody's got a phone, everybody has leaderboard access…. you don't need sign bearers anymore. The feature is nice and it gives the kids a cool experience but they get in the way because they don't know where to walk. They stand in the fairway and the group behind has to wait for them to walk ahead – give those same kids a tutorial on raking and let them be the rakers. Still have the kids there."

Ban AimPoint: 

"Statistically, [Aim Point] hasn't helped anybody make more putts since its inception on the PGA Tour. Statistics have borne that out. It's also kind of rude to be up near the hole, stomping around figuring out where the break is in your feet. It needs to be banned. It takes forever."

Eliminate golf carts: 

"There are way too many golf carts on the golf course during play. Easily, the number one reason players back off golf shots is because a golf cart is going by or a golf cart stopping. And usually, it's for a good reason, they're bringing water to put in coolers or they're shuttling people. But there's got to be a way to eliminate some of the carts. … the No. 1 reason a golf pro will back off a shot is a golf cart on the PGA Tour, I would almost guarantee it."

Drop circles: 

"Every obstruction should have a simple drop circle. If you’re up against [an obstruction] or it's in the way, drop [the ball] in the nearest designated area.

Learn the rules:

Glover admitted that he, too, is not the best at knowing the rules in certain situations so everyone should brush up their knowledge.