Matt Kuchar was in a rush.
After which he wasn’t.
Whereas Aaron Rai will go away Sedgefield Nation Membership with the trophy after a marathon Sunday on the Wyndham Championship, Kuchar would be the solely participant within the discipline sticking round one other day. With daylight fading quick, Kuchar, within the remaining threesome however out of competition in a 10-way tied for twelfth, selected to not play his second shot on his 72nd gap.
As tv cameras confirmed Rai signing his scorecard to place the of entirety on his maiden PGA Tour victory, they shortly minimize to Kuchar marking his ball within the left tough, 212 yards from the outlet. That’s when CBS on-course reporter Dottie Pepper relayed a message from PGA Tour guidelines official Ken Tackett.
“Matt Kuchar has stated he gained’t play any extra golf immediately,” Pepper stated.
CBS analyst Trevor Immelman then questioned the choice, as a horn had not been blown for darkness. Nevertheless, one other guidelines official, Orlando Pope, knowledgeable the printed staff that it was previous sundown and reasonably than blowing a horn, it as a substitute opted to only inform Kuchar and the opposite two gamers within the remaining group, Max Greyserman and Chad Ramey.
“Horn’s been theoretically blown?” Kuchar may very well be heard asking an official throughout one clip proven on the protection.
Greyserman and Ramey completed the outlet, however Kuchar will now must return Monday morning to finish his match.
If the choice appeared weird, that’s as a result of after birdieing the seventeenth gap, Kuchar hurried to the 18th tee field and shortly hit his drive. Fortunately, Kuchar’s tee ball sailed properly left of the green as a result of Rai was nonetheless in the midst of it making ready to hit his second shot.
Additionally, Kuchar started the week at No. 113 within the FedExCup standings and was projected to maneuver solely to No. 103 if he parred the ultimate gap. In different phrases, he already had been eradicated from the 70-man playoffs, which start subsequent week.
However in line for $134,695 ought to he make that closing par, Kuchar would accumulate $223,833 with a closing birdie. Conversely, a bogey would cut back his payday to $77,025.
Kuchar defined his choice to Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis afterward, saying that he was attempting to assist Greyserman in hopes that Greyserman would comply with his lead in stopping, and that he informed Tackett he was executed taking part in for the night previous to Rai birdieing the final gap in entrance of them to drag two pictures away from Greyserman.
“I used to be attempting to set an instance for Max,” Kuchar informed Lewis. “We had been up to now previous once we ought to’ve stopped taking part in. We noticed what Max did on gap 16; they need to’ve blown the outlet there. I really feel unhealthy, the poor child ought to’ve gained this match. By me not taking part in, it might present Max he has an essential shot to hit.”
Upon listening to Kuchar’s feedback, Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee was “nonetheless perplexed.”
“Why did he tee off on 18?” Chamblee stated. “As a result of if he had hit a great drive, it will’ve bought down there and probably disrupt the stream of Aaron Rai and the group in entrance of them. … He may’ve stopped lengthy earlier than this if he needed to cease.”
Added Golf Channel’s Paige Mackenzie: “Max could make his personal choice. … To say I needed to affect this different participant in his choice making, that may be a weird assertion.”
Regardless, Kuchar nonetheless has golf to play – and it’s doubtless few shall be there Monday morning to see it.
Stated CBS announcer Jim Nantz: “I don’t anticipate we’re going to be bringing you that protection tomorrow.”
