'I’m Kicking Myself But Laughing At Myself' - Former Major Champion WDs From Phoenix Open After Missing Tee Time

Former US Open champion Lucas Glover made a big mistake reading a text message which cost him his spot in the WM Phoenix Open

Lucas Glover takes a shot at the Tour Championship at East Lake
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Former US Open champion Lucas Glover was left red faced after withdrawing from the WM Phoenix Open due to missing his tee time.

The 44-year-old said he read a text message with his tee time on wrongly, and was still in his hotel room when officials contacted him to say he was about to miss his tee time at TPC Scottsdale. 

Glover was scheduled to tee off at 08.26 ET but was still inside his hotel when he was contacted as it dawned on him that he'd made a huge mistake.

“I just mis-read my text messages [with his tee time],” Glover told Golf Channel. “I’m kicking myself but laughing at myself at the same time.”

A PGA Tour veteran with six wins and that one Major championship victory at the 2009 US Open at Bethpage, Glover has never before missed his tee time.

It's not something you'd expect to happen to such an experienced player, who although is smiling now will not be pleased to miss out on one of the most exciting tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule.

Instead, first alternate Ryo Hisatsune replaced Glover in the field and will tackle TPC Scottsdale and the famed stadium hole at the 16th.

Glover had a resurgence in form at the end of last season, winning back-to-back tournaments at the Wyndham Championship and St. Jude Classic to spark talk of a shock Ryder Cup selection.

After missing out on Zach Johnson's team for Rome, Glover has failed to bag a top 10 finish since his St Jude victory, and has gone T29, missed cut and T58 in three starts this year.

Missing the WM Phoenix Open altogether will not help him find some form.

Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush.