Lucas Glover has won back-to-back PGA Tour events, with his latest win Sunday coming against a strong 70-man field at the FedEx St. Jude Championship to open the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
As with any golfer that gets hot in the weeks leading up to an international competition, questions are swirling about his eligibility and possible inclusion on the American team.
He was asked Sunday about it while basking in the glow of his sixth PGA Tour win. “Has the Ryder Cup gotten on your mind at all?” he was asked.
“About 15 minutes ago,” he replied. “What do you think?” came the follow up.
“I think I’ve never made it and I want to,” he said.
Glover won the 2009 U.S. Open and parlayed that into a spot on the 2009 Presidents Cup team but he did not keep the momentum going for the 2010 Ryder Cup.
Glover making the 2023 squad is within reason. He moved up 19 spots to No. 16 when the standings for the U.S. team were released Monday. Only the top six earn automatic spots, but you have to think Zach Johnson is considering him for one of his six captain’s picks.
Nonetheless, Glover on the roster, based on what he’s done during the season, would be a rare feat.
The last example I can find of a player who did not play in a major that year but DID play in that year's Ryder Cup was Jose Maria Canizares in 1989.
Lucas Glover did not play in any of the four majors in 2023. https://t.co/grT9V6hxiI
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) August 14, 2023
Glover is the first golfer in his 40s to go back-to-back in 15 years (Vijay Singh). He has more wins in his 40s than he did in his 20s. He’s the first golfer in more than a year to win consecutive tournaments (Tony Finau).
Next up: three in a row. Dustin Johnson in 2017 was the last to win three straight PGA Tour events.
