Matt Kuchar apologises over controversial PGA Tour finish

Matt Kuchar has apologised to the officials who were forced to return and watch his controversial finish to the Wyndham Championship.

A bizarre series of events saw the final PGA Tour event of the regular season head to a surprise Monday finish – but only for the veteran Kuchar.

Kuchar, who was no longer in contention to win or to reach the FedEx Cup playoffs, decided not to finish up on the 72nd hole as darkness descended on the Sedgefield Country Club.

Playing partners Max Greyserman and Chad Ramey both finished, but Kuchar instead decided to mark his ball in the left rough, preferring to come back and hit his approach the following day.

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Kuchar’s decision was all the more surprising given he had teed off in a hurry on 18, unaware that eventual champion Aaron Rai, Billy Horschel and Cameron Young were ahead on the fairway.

The 46-year-old returned early on Monday morning and made par after getting relief in the rough, meaning he finished T12 and secured a cheque for $144,965.

“Nobody wants to be that guy that’s showing up today, one person, one hole,” Kuchar conceded afterwards. “Not even one hole, half a hole to putt. So apologies to the tournament, to everybody that had to come out.

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“I know it stinks, I know the ramifications, I know it stinks. Certainly I apologise to force everybody to come out here.”

This is the first time Kuchar has missed out on the FedEx Cup finals in its 17-year history, but the par on the 18th ensured he would at least move up to No.103 in the standings, which is significant as he battles to keep his card in the Fall season.

On Sunday evening, the nine-time PGA Tour winner told the Golf’s Channel’s Todd Lewis that he decided to walk in to set an example to his younger playing partner Greyserman, who had blown the tournament with a quadruple bogey and a double bogey in his final five holes.

He defended that decision as he spoke to a smattering of reporters on Monday morning.

“Listen, nobody wants to be that guy, which I feel I turned into, the one guy that didn’t finish,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many times I have been finished with a round thinking, bummed out that somebody didn’t finish, that we didn’t get to make the cut because somebody didn’t finish.

“Here it’s me now as the guy that didn’t get to finish the tournament.”

Kuchar continued: “But last night, last night was dark. I mean, we had texts that Round 1 was suspended at 8:15, Round 2 was suspended at 8:25. That was to make the cut, so they pushed it even longer. Last night Round 4 was suspended at 8:40, like it was dark.”

When asked if he’d have done anything differently, Kuchar replied: “From that situation, no. Listen, I would have been so pleased with a bogey last night.

“All I was thinking was let’s try to avoid double this morning. To come out and have, you know, the ability to take a drop, to get relief is a bonus.

“I just hope it doesn’t cause too many problems. I was excited that at least they got Aaron Rai got to finish, got to do the awards ceremony. I think that would have really stunk had Aaron not cemented the win and been able to do the trophy ceremony and all that goes with it.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.