Latest PGA Tour winner Aaron Rai gives verdict on Matt Kuchar controversy
Aaron Rai has offered his thoughts on Matt Kuchar's behaviour at the Wyndham Championship after he claimed his first PGA Tour victory.
Newly-crowned PGA Tour winner Aaron Rai has backed Matt Kuchar's controversial decision to delay his finish at the Wyndham Championship.
Rai stepped into the winner's circle for the very first time over the weekend at Sedgefield Country Club.
It was an emotional moment for the Englishman, who joined the Tour in 2022, after a number of strong performances this season.
His victory came after Max Greyserman's collapse which the American later described as his own 'Phil Mickelson 2006 moment'.
Greyserman was alluding to the time Lefty came into the U.S. Open at Winged Foot on the 72nd hole leading by one, only to make a disastrous double and lose.
Mickelson's collapse is generally considered to be one of the most brutal in major championship history.
Greyserman was leading by four shots but came unstuck with a calamitous quadruple-bogey at the 14th hole.
Rai closed the door with a dart 4-iron up 18 and won by two.
His win was partly overshadowed by Kuchar's decision to delay his finish.
Officials were forced to return 24 hours later as Kuchar made a closing par to finish T12.
His decision was all the more surprising given he had already teed off the night before, unaware that Rai's group was in the fairway.
For his part, Kuchar acknowledged that it 'stunk'.
"Certainly I apologise to force everybody to come out here," he said.
Kuchar's caddie has also had his say.
So what did Rai make of the situation?
"I haven't really read much about the reaction to that [Kuchar's decision]," Rai told GolfMagic and a small group of reporters before the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
"So I I can't really comment too much on it.
"But I think in that situation the the player is entitled to do what they are most comfortable with.
"It should be their decision and it wasn't enforced upon him to have to finish.
"So he has every right to to make that decision and do what he feels is best and most comfortable.
"And if [he] felt coming back on Monday was the best thing to do then that I think that should be respected.
"So, yeah, I don't know what the reaction is, but that's that's my opinion on it."
Too early for Ryder Cup chatter
Rai's performances have caught the attention of the European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.
Donald sent a message of congratulations to Rai after his heroics last week.
Rai said he hasn't had the chance to properly sit down and reflect on his win and his vault up the world rankings.
And it's far too soon to talk about a Ryder Cup debut, he said.
"The Ryder Cup would be something amazing to be a part of, but it's also such a long way away from now," Rai said.
"[We are] still over a year away from that. A lot of it is down to how well you're playing in the run up to the Ryder Cup.
"I think continuing to improve and seeing progression in the game and that manifesting itself in the form of results is incredibly positive and and very satisfying.
"If I continue to do that, then I give myself chances for other things to fall into place in the future.
"Obviously that would be amazing to be a part of that in the future.
"Whether that’s next year or beyond that, but it's still such a long way away right now."
Of Donald, Rai said: "He's been very good to me as well over the last year, 18 months or so, I've spent a little bit of time with him.
"He's always been very giving with his advice. He's been very, very gracious to me."
Rai has been handed a 5.50pm GMT+1 tee time for the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship alongside Australia's Jason Day.
