Matt Kuchar has left the course. Finally.
Some 12 hours after the American golfer opted not to finish his final round at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., citing darkness, Kuchar returned and wrapped things up, according to PGATour.com’s Kevin Price.
Alone.
The Wyndham Championship was a mess, thanks to a tropical storm that created all sorts of delays. Indeed, three different rounds were being played simultaneously on Sunday.
Kuchar was in the final group with Chad Ramey and Max Greyserman. All had hit their tee shots on 18 when they were told that, because of darkness, they could finish their round on Monday. While Ramey and Greyserman played on, Kuchar marked his ball on the 18th fairway, 212 yards from the hole, and stopped. Many were confused by the decision.
Greyserman wound up in second, two shots back of winner Aaron Rai, who was in the group ahead of them. Ramey finished in a tied for 52nd.
Neither were required to stick around Monday for Kuchar’s final shots. Instead, according to Price, a tour official served as his marker.
So, at 8 a.m. local time, the 46-year-old came back out, warmed up, got some line-of-sight relief from a scoreboard because of where his drive had landed, and then hit his approach. According to Price, he missed the green but nearly holed his chip, settling for an easy tap-in instead.
Kuchar scored a par. “A smattering of fans that had gathered greenside” applauded, according to Price. The observers even included a man and his dog.
Afterward, Kuchar apologized for keeping people around and offered an explanation.
“Last night was dark,” he told the assembled media. “I think had I been in the fairway with a normal shot, I probably would have attempted to finish. … Coming back in the morning, I never would have taken that drop last night, I never would have thought to ask. I knew I was in a terrible situation; I was praying to make bogey from where I was. To walk away with par, nearly birdie, is a huge bonus.”
The par meant Kuchar finished in a tie for 12th, moving him up into 103rd spot in the FedExCup standings. Worth noting: only the top 125 retain their exempt status for near year on the Tour after the fall events are completed.
On Sunday, Matt Kuchar made headlines at the Wyndham Championship as he completed his final round on the 18th hole by himself. The unusual situation occurred after Kuchar’s playing partner, Adam Schenk, was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.
Kuchar, known for his sportsmanship and professionalism on the golf course, handled the situation with grace and composure. Despite being alone on the final hole, he remained focused and finished his round with a respectable score.
This is not the first time Kuchar has found himself in a unique situation on the golf course. In 2019, he made headlines for his controversial handling of a caddie payment issue, which sparked a debate about fair compensation in professional golf.
Despite the ups and downs of his career, Kuchar remains a fan favorite for his consistent play and positive attitude. His performance at the Wyndham Championship only solidifies his reputation as a true professional in the world of golf.
As Kuchar moves on to future tournaments, fans can expect to see more impressive performances from the seasoned golfer. His ability to handle adversity with poise and determination is a testament to his skill and character, making him a player to watch in the world of professional golf.