Glover leads group seeking last-minute spot

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CHASKA, Minn. -- U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover is climbing the PGA Championship leaderboard early Friday morning. He just birdied the 18th hole to turn in 2 under and move up 13 spots into a tie for fourth at 3 under for the tournament.

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Lucas Glover is trying to earn a place on the U.S. team or at least show Fred Couples he's worth a captain's pick.

A second major championship would certainly make the South Carolinian a strong candidate for PGA TOUR Player of the Year honors. It would also land him on the U.S. Presidents Cup team he so dearly wants to make.

Glover needs to finish solo fourth or better to grab one of the 10 automatic spots on Fred Couples' team for the matches at Harding Park in October. Ditto for Hunter Mahan, who tees off this afternoon also at 3 under and two strokes behind Tiger Woods.

There are five other players who have a mathematical shot at moving into the top 10. David Toms, who is also in that tie at 69, needs a win, though, as does Dustin Johnson, who shot even-par 72 in the first round.

Nick Watney is flirting with the cut line after a 75 along with Jerry Kelly (77) and Brian Gay (78). So the win each would need to potentially make the team isn't looking to be in the realm of possibility.

And for Greg Norman's International Team? There are 16 players who could overtake Tim Clark, who's ninth in the standings, or Rory Sabbatini, who is 10th -- assuming one or both of them misses the cut. Sabbatini shot 74 Thursday while Clark shot 76.

Of that group, Mathew Goggin is the highest placed after opening with a 69. The Aussie needs to finish eighth or better to have a shot. Thongchai Jaidee, who needs to finish fifth or better, opened with a 70.

As for the others, in order of their standings, Jeev Milka Singh opened with a 74 while Shingo Katayama shot 75, Adam Scott 82, Stephen Ames 74, K.J. Choi 73, Ryo Ishikawa 74, Brendan Jones 71, Prayad Marksaeng 76, Charl Schwartzel 76, Andres Romero 75, Louis Oosthuizen 72, Richard Sterne 73 and Rod Pampling 74.