Amidst intense competition between Zach Johnson and Lucas Glover, one moment in the press conference brought a light conclusion to the John Deere Classic's second day.

Glover spoke to reporters at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, on July 3, after his second round at the John Deere Classic.

That's when a reporter asked Lucas Glover on Friday whether he was worried about keeping up with the older players. Glover's reply came with a grin. "That Zach Johnson guy? Yeah, I know him."

"Zach and I have been close for a long time," Glover told reporters, per an ASAP Sports transcript. "He's a good man. You know, meant a lot to this tournament. Means a lot to me. I'm happy he's playing great, especially for the people around here that love him so much. It's great for the event. It's great for him, great for his family. You know, he's a great dude."

Johnson skipped the U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club this week, along with The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and the Senior British Open at Gleneagles, to compete at TPC Deere Run. He is playing in the John Deere Classic for the 24th year in a row and is competing in his first season on the PGA Tour Champions.

Glover is at 14 under par and leads the tournament by two shots. Johnson, 50, is tied at 8 under after rounds of 64 and 70, six shots behind the leader. He opened with a 7-under 64 on Thursday, carding six birdies and a 45-foot eagle on the par-5 17th.

Asked if the two of them together represented a win for the older generation, Glover kept it measured. "Yeah, maybe. We'll see. Nobody is giving trophies away on Friday."

Johnson's John Deere Legacy and What's at Stake

Johnson is making just his second PGA Tour start since turning 50 in February. 

His primary focus this year is the Schwab Cup on the PGA Tour Champions, where he ranks second to Stewart Cink. He has said his next PGA Tour start after this week will likely be the RSM Classic at Sea Island, Georgia, in the fall.

A win at TPC Deere Run this week would make Johnson the latest over-50 golfer to win on the PGA Tour.

Glover, for his part, is chasing his seventh PGA Tour title and first since the 2023 FedEx St. Jude Championship.

What do you think about Lucas Glover and Zach Johnson's runs at the John Deere Classic? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar