SILVIS, Ill. — Lucas Glover has yet to make a bogey at the 2026 John Deere Classic.
The 46-year-old from South Carolina followed up an 8-under 63 in the first round with another clean scorecard Friday, firing 65 in the second round to get to 14 under and take a two-shot lead into the weekend. Glover started on the back nine and opened his round with a pair of birdies at Nos. 10 and 11 and was off to the races from there, picking up shots at holes 14, 16 and 17 to make the turn in 5-under 31. On the front nine, he made par on every hole, save for a birdie at the par-5 second.
“Kind of just kept playing nice,” Glover said. “Nothing spectacular, just solid, good golf. Could have made a few more on the front, but I didn’t, but I’m still very happy with the way I played.”
Glover is a six-time winner on the PGA Tour, but he hasn’t won since 2023. If he emerges victorious over the weekend, it’d mark his second win at the John Deere Classic, the first coming in 2021. Because of that, he knows four low scores are almost always needed to win this tournament, so he’s not even thinking about the trophy yet.
“I know good and well that it’s going to take a lot more, so there’s not going to be any hanging on,” Glover said. “The pedal has to be down, stay aggressive. I like that mindset versus, say, trying to hang on and just make pars a bunch. It’s easier to sleep on a lead that way would be the best way I know how to say it when you know that you don’t have to play like I played yesterday and today to even have a chance.”
Glover is a seasoned veteran among a field full of young up-and-comers hoping to announce their arrival on the PGA Tour with a high finish at the John Deere Classic, which has produced more first-time winners (24) than any other event.
“This is my 23rd year, there nothing I haven’t ‘been there, done that,’ to be fair,” Glover said. “I’ve played in the last groups and played great, and I’ve played in the last groups and played terrible. There’s no formula other than hydrate and rest and keep the pedal down this week, because it’s not going to be able to hang on. There’s going to be birdies and eagles. It’s going to be fun.”
Nick Stavas is a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek. Follow him on X/Twitter (@nickstavas).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Lucas Glover takes two-shot lead into weekend at 2026 John Deere Classic
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