The 6-time PGA Tour winner, Lucas Glover, just shot one of the best rounds of his season. Then he admitted he is often his own worst enemy on the golf course.

Glover spoke to reporters Thursday, July 2, after his first round at the 2026 John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. He fired a bogey-free 8-under 63 to share the early lead with Zac Blair. When asked about a trend among players being kinder to themselves, Glover did not hold back.

"I always say, nobody hates me more than me, especially on the golf course," he said, per the ASAP Sports transcript. "It's a hard game, and the harder you are on yourself, the harder you are making it. I'm as big a culprit of that as anybody."

The self-criticism comes against the backdrop of a difficult 2026 season. Glover has made just eight cuts in 15 starts with only one top-20 finish, per Golf Channel. At the Travelers Championship last week, he opened with a 75, five bogeys, no birdies, and was in last place after round one.

The difficult start at Travelers, however, turned into something useful. Playing from last place on Sunday, Glover identified a flaw in his backswing. 

"When you are in last on Sunday morning, you can try some things on the course that you might not usually do," he said. "I was able to do that Sunday."

He came to TPC Deere Run on Monday and worked with coach Jason Baile, the 2025 PGA of America Teacher and Coach of the Year, to check what he had discovered. The solution was simple.

"It was basically just turning and turning a little bit lower, flatter," Glover said, per the ASAP Sports transcript. "I have a pretty short swing anyway, so if it gets lifty, I get in trouble."

The round also carried personal meaning. "I'm going to celebrate today because it's been a while," Glover said. "I hadn't had a round in that like a long time."

His history at this venue is part of what made Thursday feel different.

PGA Tour Pro Glover has a long history at TPC Deere

Glover won the John Deere Classic in 2021 and has been coming to Silvis since he received a sponsor exemption straight out of college in 2002.

He said the course and community have always felt like home.

"Even struggling like I have this year, you pull down the driveway somewhere you've had success, it gives you a good feeling," he said. "Always liked it here."

Thursday’s conditions at TPC Deere Run helped the entire field score well. Lucas Glover said the fairways were the firmest he had ever seen at the course, while the greens stayed soft because of the hot weather. With little wind compared to earlier in the week, players had easier scoring conditions.

He shared the lead with Blair, who also shot 63. Lee Hodges and Stephan Jaeger are one shot back at 7-under 64.

Do you think Lucas Glover can hold on and win his second John Deere Classic title? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi