PGA Tour boss defends Matt Kuchar over controversial decision

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has defended Matt Kuchar for his actions at last week’s Wyndham Championship.

Kuchar, a nine-time winner on Tour, walked off the 18th hole at Sedgefield Country Club on Sunday, opting not to play his second shot.

With darkness looming over North Carolina, the 46-year-old rushed to finish his round before finding the left rough from the tee, leaving 212 yards to the pin.

But Kuchar said enough was enough and told Todd Lewis that he was “trying to set an example for Max [Greyserman],” who had earlier blown a four-shot lead.

“We were so far past when we should’ve stopped playing,” he said.

“We saw what Max did on hole 16; they should’ve blown the hole there. I feel bad, the poor kid should’ve won this tournament. By me not playing, it may show Max he has an important shot to hit.”

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After returning to the course and finishing his round alone on Monday, Kuchar apologised to the officials who were forced to return.

The decision prompted plenty of criticism, but tour chief Jay Monahan was one of few people who understood Kuchar’s choice.

“Matt had every right to do exactly what he did,” Monahan said when speaking to reporters in Memphis on Wednesday.

“There are so many unique circumstances that come up on the PGA Tour, and that was one of them.”

Meanwhile, chief competitions officer Tyler Dennis confirmed Kuchar was within his rights to stop playing.

“The officials basically have a standard operating procedure that right around sunset they will indicate that we’re going to suspend play,” he said.

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“(On Sunday, there was) effectively one group left, the guys in front of them were almost done. I think Matt teed off a couple groups before sunset, and our head official notified the group that they were able to continue or stop if they needed to.

“We just want to apply the rules in the same manner each week, and that’s what happened.”

By making par on his final hole, Kuchar finished in a tie for 12th place, ensuring he’d jump ten spots in the season-long FedEx Cup standings to number 103.

The top 125 players will keep playing privileges on the PGA Tour for the following season.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.