Matt Kuchar defends controversial decision to walk out of Wyndham and return Monday
Matt Kuchar has defended his controversial decision not to complete the final hole of the Wyndham Championship on Sunday.
Matt Kuchar has defended his controversial decision to not complete the par-4 18th in the final round of the Wyndham Championship on Sunday night.
Kuchar, 46, decided to mark up his golf ball in the left rough and return to complete the hole on Monday morning.
That was despite his playing partners Max Greyserman and Chad Ramey electing to finish out the hole as darkness descended at Sedgefield Country Club.
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The decision to return on Monday seemed a baffling one for Kuchar given he was T12 in the tournament and could not even advance to this week's first FedEx Cup Playoffs event.
Kuchar needed to win the Wyndham Championship in order to play in the FedEx St Jude Championship.
Kuchar's decision also meant a number of tournament officials, greens staff, volunteers and event crew had to return on Monday just to allow him to hit a few more shots down the 18th.
An unlikely birdie from his position in the trees would result in Kuchar earning around $200,000.
A par would be worth in the region of $120,000, while a bogey would see him walk away with some $70,000.
While large sums for the average player, this is a man who is about to surpass $60m in career earnings on the PGA Tour.
Surely he could have just finished up with the rest of his group and got out of there?
Related: Kuchar ripped by golf fans on social media after baffling decision
Kuchar's call to return on Monday drew strong criticism from PGA Tour fans on social media.
Even lead CBS host Jim Nantz said: "I don’t expect we’re going to be bringing you that coverage tomorrow."
But despite being slammed on social media, Kuchar has stood by his decision.
He considers the horn should have sounded well before the 18th hole, especially after Greyserman four-jabbed the 16th for a double bogey.
Kuchar told Golf Channel:
"I was trying to set an example for Max.
"We were so far past when we should’ve stopped playing. We saw what Max did on hole 16 (four-putting for a double bogey) – they should’ve blown the horn 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."
Greyserman led by four shots with five holes to play when he holed out for eagle on the par-4 13th.
But he then sent his tee shot OB at the 14th and he went on to card a disastrous quadruple-bogey eight.
He moved one shot ahead with a birdie at the par-5 15th but then fell out of the lead with a costly double from nowhere on the par-3 16th.
Eventual winner Aaron Rai went on to birdie the final hole to card a flawless final-round 64 and see out a two-shot victory over Greyserman, who notched his second straight solo second on the PGA Tour.
