Lucas Glover
Professional golfer Lucas Glover earned his first major PGA championship with his performance at the 2009 U.S. Open.
Synopsis
Lucas Glover became a golfer professionally in 2001. In 2003, his performance on the Nationwide Tour earned him a win at the Gila River Classic, which helped him earn
a promotion to the PGA Tour. After claiming his first PGA Tour win in 2005, Glover scored his first major championship with a two-stroke win at the 2009 U.S. Open.
Early Years and High School
Athlete. Born Lucas Hendley Glover on November 12, 1979, in Greenville, South Carolina. Glover showed an early aptitude for golf; at Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, he recorded several major amateur golf victories. As a freshman and sophomore, he won the South Carolina State High School golf championship. He went on to place second in the tournament as a junior and a senior.
A three-time Rolex High Junior All-American, Glover played in the Cannon Cup for two seasons, won the South Carolina Golf Association junior tournament in 1996, and was ranked all-state in all four years of high school.
NCAA Success
Glover's grandfather Dick Hendley was a former Clemson University football and baseball star, and a member of the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame. His grandfather's legacy made an impact on Lucas, who enrolled at the school in 1997 and earned a bachelor's in speech communication while shining on the golf course. Among his biggest achievements were being named South Carolina Amateur Champion from 1998-2000 and earning first team All-American honors in 2000 and 2001. Glover also broke
several records while at Clemson, including lowest total score for a 54-hole event (201) and low stroke average by a junior (71.24).
Glover graduated from Clemson in 2001 ranked third in school history in rounds at par or better (86) and career stroke average (71.95). That same year, he won the Sunnehanna Amateur and became a member of the United States Walker Cup team. He turned professional later that year.
Pro Career and U.S. Open Victory
Named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary Team for his collegiate success, Glover joined the Nationwide Tour in 2002. His win at the 2003 Gila River Classic landed him at 17th on the "money list," a ranking system that helped him earn a promotion to the PGA Tour.
In 2004, Glover played in 30 events on the PGA Tour, posting two Top-10 finishes. In 2005, the golfer landed his first PGA Tour career victory at the FUNAI Classic. He went on to finish 30th on the money list, with earnings of $2,050,068. In 2006, Lucas scored nine Top-10 finishes, and earned the 21st slot on the money list.
Following a disappointing 2008 season, Glover claimed his first major championship at the 2009 U.S. Open, a win that propelled him from No. 71 to No. 18 in the world
rankings. He won his third PGA tournament at the 2011 Wells Fargo Championship, but saw his performance suffer in subsequent years due to a shaky short game.
