Lucas Glover’s career was going nowhere when he showed up at the John Deere Claasic in 2021.
He hadn’t won on the PGA Tour since the 2011 Wells Fargo — 10 years in the rear-view mirror — and your basic distant memory.
The word “fluke” has been consistently attached to his victory at the 2009 U.S. Open and rightfully so — he hasn’t contended in a major since with the exception of a fifth-place finish at the 2009 PGA Championship. He was your basic non-factor in majors.
When Glover showed up at the TPC Deere Run last year in Silvis, Illinois, his first round 68 wasn’t anything to write home about but something magical happened with a day two 63. He fell back a bit with a 70 on moving day but found the right groove for a closing 64 that got him to 19-under par — two better than Ryan Moore and Kevin Na. And just like that — Glover revived his fading PGA Tour career.
It was only his fourth career win, adding to the 2009 U.S. Open, that 2011 Wells Fargo and his first back in 2005 at Disney.
Glover hasn’t exactly torn it up since. He’s 118th in the world rankings but someone who can contend this week at the place where young players can jump start their careers and outliers can put themselves back in the winner’s circle.
The field won’t turn a lot of heads but one name that stands out is that of rookie Sahith Theegala. Theegala was staring into the golden pot that is a PGA Tour victory last week when he stood on the 18th tee at The Travelers with a one-shot lead over Xander Schauffele.
What happened next was a tough lesson for Theegala. He found a fairway bunker and doomed his chances when he caught the lip of the bunker with his second shot. He was out in three then lipped out what was a putt to save bogey. The double made it easy for Schauffele, who ended his own 1,000-plus days without an individual PGA Tour win.
PGA Tour Cements Its Alliance And Relationship With DP World Tour:
Well it’s time to throw that rumor about the Saudis buying the DP World Tour to rest.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour announced that it is strengthening its strategic alliance with the DP World Tour, and that a pathway is now in place for increased purses in Europe.
A 13-year operational partnership was finalized and announced.
As part of the bolstered strategic alliance, which runs through 2035, the PGA Tour will increase its ownership stake in European Tour Productions from 15 percent to 40 percent, creating an influx of cash to drive prize funds while also generating playing opportunities for members of both Tours.
Prize money on the DP World Tour is now guaranteed to increase on an annual basis over the next few years. And beginning in 2023, the top 10 finishers not already exempt on the season-ending DP World Tour Rankings will receive Tour cards for the following season. Top performers on the Sunshine and Australasian tours will also now have a pathway to DP World Tour membership.
PGA Tour Makes Korn Ferry Tour Changes:
There’s a change in PGA Tour qualification process and is revamping/reintroducing the Q-School.
The first revamped Q-School will take place beginning next fall for the 2024 season. “Bringing back the awarding of PGA Tour cards at Q-School will be exciting for our fans, membership, and potential new membership,” Korn Ferry Tour president Alex Baldwin said.
Other changes that will go into effect next year include getting rid of the 25 PGA Tour cards available solely via the Korn Ferry finals and adding cards to the top points earners at the end of what will next year be a 26-event season that runs from January to October. The old Korn Ferry finals will now be considered the last four events of the Korn Ferry season, where members will compete for increased purses and points. For example, regular season events will feature $1 million purses and 500 available points while the finals events will be bumped up to $1.5 million and 600 points.
The Korn Ferry will also increase the number of Tour cards from 25 to 30.
The No. 1 points earner each season on the Korn Ferry will be exempt into the following year’s Players Championship and U.S. Open.
The PGA Tour is also awarding the top 10 finishers on the DP World Tour each season with cards.
