Lucas Glover has seen a lot in the past two decades of competing on the PGA tour, but the changes with the tour he is witnessing now have pushed him to the edge. Glover, in recent times, has come to a painful realisation and has admitted that the fight for the PGA tour he loved might already be lost. What exactly has Lucas Glover so over the edge? It isn’t just a single change, but a string of changes that led to the 2009 US Champs’ frustration.

The first change was the decision to reduce PGA Tour cards. Then came the wave of layoffs in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Added to this was the rise of exclusive signature events at the expense of full-field tournaments. In the Any Given Monday Podcast, he added, “They cut 25 Tour cards, which is basically 25 Tour players’ jobs, and at the same time cut, I don’t know, 40–50% of the workforce in Ponte Vedra because of money. And they’re saying it’s because of the pace of play… but that’s just garbage.” 

This time, Lucas Glover is blaming the new PGA Tour’s CEO, Brian Rolapp, instead of blaming the system. For him, the shift towards exclusive no-cut events is a betrayal of what the PGA Tour stands for. “We’re the only sport limiting opportunity and shortening our field and telling everyone that that’s more competition,” he blasted. “Don’t pee on my back and tell me it’s raining. I’m not stupid. And the public isn’t either.”

This is due to how the PGA Tour is in competition with the LIV Golf league. These exclusive no-cut tournaments are brought in to satisfy sponsor demands and to increase TV ratings, which ultimately leads to more money made. This format, however, reduces the number of opportunities for players who are just starting their professional journey and haven’t had many opportunities to earn points. 

Lucas Glover also slammed the Tour’s obsession with money, arguing that the aspect of money has overtaken the sport’s core values. “Sadly, our sport has become too much about money,” he said. “They’re giving away so much money that nobody’s gonna say anything. At the end of all my things, I always just say, Could somebody please that has the power just do something good for golf instead of doing something good for a multi-millionaire Tour player?”

While Glover’s anger is the loudest, he isn’t alone in questioning the Tour’s direction. Brian Harman, the reigning Open Champion, admitted he is “not numb” to the impact of shrinking fields, noting that the changes don’t sit well with him even as he understands the logistical reasoning. Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, has taken a more measured stance: he sees value in marquee signature events but has criticized their scheduling and even skipped several himself, arguing that players should have the freedom to choose. Together, their perspectives show that Glover’s concerns echo across the locker room, though others voice them with less fire.

For Glover, however, these frustrations run deeper than scheduling or field sizes. His disappointment with leadership is just the surface of a bigger issue — the PGA Tour, in his eyes, is losing the very values and identity it once stood for.

The wholesome family atmosphere is disappearing

Lucas Glover has grown increasingly disillusioned with what he sees as the PGA Tour’s shift from its family-friendly, community-driven roots to a money-first operation.

“And when’s the last time anybody talked about the charity initiative of the PGA Tour? When’s the last time anybody talked about the billions of dollars that we made for charities across the country and communities where we play? Nobody talks about that anymore. Why not? Well, it’s because it’s not a focus anymore, unfortunately. The wholesome family atmosphere of the PGA Tour’s gone.. overtaken by money, money, and more money.”

Still, Glover remains motivated on the course: “The motivation is still there, for sure. I want to play great… maybe my voice does carry a little more weight if I play well.”

For him, the issue goes beyond personal frustration. Many players share his concerns that the Tour’s obsession with exclusive events and payouts for top stars may bring short-term profits but erode opportunity, tradition, and fan connection in the long run.

His message is clear: unless the PGA Tour balances money with opportunity and values, it risks leaving behind the stories, competition, and next generation of players that define the game.