Change of heart: PGA Tour critic Lucas Glover elected to join leadership team

Two surprises this week from the PGA Tour: Tiger Woods did not rule out the possibility of competing in the Masters this year, and Lucas Glover is taking a place in the organization’s governing structure.

Did anybody see either scenario coming?

Tiger, maybe. Glover, no way.

Woods is generally non-committal about this schedule, especially after all of his physical setbacks. And he did not say he will play at Augusta National in April. But asked if he had ruled out participation this year, he simply replied, “No.”

Even the possibility that Tiger, now 50, will play in the Masters after yet another injury/surgery whets the golf world’s appetite for spring. He has not played competitively since the 2024 Open Championship, but he is still Tiger.

On the other hand ... raised eyebrows of skepticism came naturally after the Tour announced the news regarding Glover.

There’s no questioning his credentials. After an amateur career that features three South Carolina Amateur championships, playing on the U.S. Walker Cup team and earning All-America honors at Clemson, he turned pro and his six Tour tournament titles over two decades include the 2009 U.S. Open.

But he is far better known recently for his criticism of the PGA Tour’s leadership and its decisions.

Despite the latter, the Tour announced Wednesday that Glover, a 46-year-old Greenville native, has been elected by the membership to join the Player Advisory Council and will become its chairman. That, in turn, leads to his becoming a player director on the Tour’s board of directors (2027-30).

Glover had turned down the opportunity to serve on the advisory council 10 times, calling the meetings useless and a waste of time. He made no secret of his disdain for some changes the Tour has made to combat LIV golf.

Now, he told Golfweek’s Adam Schupak, “I can add value from inside the room instead of outside.”

The change of heart, he told Golfweek, came from talking to several players he respects and who are involved in the Tour governing structure.

“... There’s enough guys that want my voice in there to be heard, that I should probably do it,” he said.

Glover brings a wealth of experience at golf’s highest level to his new challenge. He turned pro in 2001, made the PGA Tour in 2004 and has won six tournaments. He has made the cut in 368 of his 567 starts and earned more than $41 million.

“... I’ve gone through the ups and downs and been in some categories that some guys are now fighting for their spots, just kind of seeing it from everywhere,” he told Golfweek.

But the now for-profit Tour is different and he said he has a lot to discover about the new operation before he can make an impact.

Glover underwent surgery in September for a torn labrum and made his first start of the season last week at Pebble Beach, finishing in a tie for 64th. He is eligible for the lucrative 2026 signature events by virtue of finishing 36th in the FedEx Cup standings last year.

Chip shots. USC golfers Frankie Harris (co-player of the week) and Talan Harrison (co-freshman of the week) earned SEC honors for their performances in the Puerto Rico Classic. Harris captured the individual title and Harrison shared 14th. ... Despite a strong finish, USC’s women finished 11th in the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Florida. Juniors Maylis Lamoure and Vairana Heck tied for 25th to lead the Gamecocks individually. ... Clemson’s men finished 21st in weather-plagued Prestige in LaQuinta, California. High winds sent second-round scores soaring and forced cancellation of the final round. ... Clemson’s women placed 11th in the Spartan Suncoast Invitation in Sarasota, Florida. Isabella Rawl tied for 23rd to lead the Tigers. ... Save the date: The annual South Carolina Golf Ball, a fund-raiser for the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation, is set for 6:30-9:30 p.m. on April 9 at USC’s Pastides Alumni Center. ... Thanks to a record-breaking 2025 RBC Heritage, the Heritage Classic Foundation has distributed $4.422 million to charities. Since 1987, the foundation has made charitable donations of $61.8 million.