GREENSBORO, N.C. – In a stunning comeback, Lucas Glover secured his fifth PGA Tour victory at the Wyndham Championship, reaping a reward of over $1.3 million and 500 FedExCup points.
This triumph not only boosted his bank account but also propelled him from 112th to 49th place in the FedExCup standings, securing a coveted spot in the playoffs’ first round.
The Wyndham Championship, held at Sedgefield Country Club, proved to be a turning point for Glover, who had battled the dreaded yips for nearly a decade.
These involuntary wrist spasms, especially prevalent during putting, had haunted his game and shaken his confidence.
However, a remarkable turnaround was underway, thanks to a new putter and an innovative split-handed grip.
Glover’s journey to redemption had its origins in an unfortunate 4-putt incident at the Charles Schwab Challenge a decade ago.
He had explored various strategies, including putting with his eyes closed, to combat the yips, but his putting statistics revealed a sharp decline. His short-range misses were alarming, ranking 196th and 193rd on Tour in successive seasons.
Faced with this ordeal, Glover considered switching to a long putter or even putting left-handed.
“I just tried the long putter first,” he revealed. “I had two weeks off before Memorial and just ordered [a new putter] and taught myself how to use it, and been kind of sticking to that.”
This adjustment paid dividends, as Glover found success with a broomstick-style putter featuring a mallet head. At the Rocket Mortgage Classic, he ranked fifth in Strokes Gained: Putting, securing his first top-10 finish of the season.
With newfound confidence in his putting, Glover’s performances skyrocketed. Three consecutive top-10 finishes followed – a T-4 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, a T-6 at the John Deere Classic, and a T-5 at the Barbasol Championship.
The Wyndham Championship showcased Glover’s resurgence. Holding a share of the 54-hole lead, he faced challenging conditions and a determined Billy Horschel.
Glover’s final round was a roller-coaster, beginning with a three-putt bogey but rebounding with a tap-in birdie.
As rain halted play, the tension mounted, and Glover found himself tied with Russell Henley when the weather cleared.
Henley, a perennial contender at the Wyndham Championship, stumbled down the stretch, allowing Glover to capitalize.
In a dramatic finish, Glover’s approach to the 18th hole veered left, fortuitously bouncing off a golf cart and into a more favorable position.
With nerves of steel, Glover laid up and executed a flawless up-and-down for par.
His closing putt, a confident 8-footer, sealed his victory and marked a symbolic triumph over his putting demons.
“It’s what I needed,” Glover acknowledged, referring to his revamped putting technique.
“This is a completely different motor skill and just a way to rewire my brain… When you struggle as long as I have, or had, it just happened to be what happened.”
With his Wyndham Championship win, Glover’s FedExCup journey experienced a remarkable turnaround.
Climbing from 112th to 49th place, he secured a berth in the playoffs and earned a chance to compete in subsequent events.
The playoffs’ prize purses are substantial – $20 million for the first two events and an eye-popping $75 million for the Tour Championship.
Glover’s journey serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of professional golfers.
Overcoming the yips and revitalizing his putting game, he carved a path to victory at the Wyndham Championship and solidified his position among the sport’s elite.
