Matt Kuchar returned to the Wyndham on Monday and instantly asked for a TIO!
PGA Tour fans in disbelief at the actions of Matt Kuchar, who returned to finish off the par-4 18th at the Wyndham Championship on Monday.
PGA Tour pro Matt Kuchar returned to the Wyndham Championship to complete the par-4 18th on Monday morning, but not before asking for Temporary Immovable Obstruction (TIO) relief.
Kuchar, 46, refused to complete the par-4 18th in the final group on Sunday night after the hooter sounded due to darkness.
He was left with the option of either finishing off the hole, something his playing partners Max Greyserman and Chad Ramey elected to do, or come back tomorrow.
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Kuchar decided on the latter, much to the disappointment of a number of volunteers and event crew who had to also return on Monday.
The nine-time PGA Tour winner was slammed by golf fans and members of the golf media for not just getting the job done on Sunday.
He was T12 after all and was not able to qualify for the start of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Related: Late Greyserman meltdown hands Rai his first PGA Tour title
Kuchar needed to win the Wyndham Championship in order to advance to this week's FedEx St Jude Championship.
What Kuchar did have on his mind though was ensuring a par down 18 to improve his position in the top 125 and secure his card for 2025.
He strongly defended his decision to return on Monday in an interview with Golf Channel.
Back bright and early on Monday morning, Kuchar had a quick warmup on the range before trudging over to his ball located in the left rough down the par-4 18th.
Kuchar had little to no shot behind a large cluster of trees, but what he did have in his favour was a scoreboard in his line to the flag.
Something that more than likely dictated his decision to return on Monday instead of faff around taking a drop in darkness on Sunday.
Bringing all his experience to the fore, Kuchar used the rules to his advantage and received line-of-sight relief away from the scoreboard.
He was able to take a free drop onto the adjacent fairway to ensure a much clearer shot towards the green.
Kuchar played a solid iron shot from there that ended up just shy of the green.
He then pitched up to two feet for a par.
It all added up to a 1-over 71 and an 11-under par total in T12.
Related: How much they all made at the Wyndham Championship
That was six shots behind eventual first-time PGA Tour winner Aaron Rai.
Kuchar's par on 18 ensured he bumped himself up to 103rd in the standings, huge for his ambitions on keeping his card for 2025.
The top 125 will earn their cards for 2025.
Despite being a nine-time PGA Tour winner, Kuchar's last win came at the 2019 Sony Open in Hawaii and so he has no exemption.
Kuchar earned just over $140,000 for finishing T12 at the Wyndham Championship.
A bogey would have cost him around $60,000.
Kuchar apologised to a small gathering of event crew and volunteers after he tapped home for a par on 18.
He considered returning on Monday morning - and taking advantage of a TIO - gave him the best chance of making a par rather than attempting to do it all in darkness on Sunday night.
Kuchar told a pool of reporters on Monday:
"Nobody wants to be that guy that's showing up today, one person, one hole. Not even one hole, half a hole to putt. So apologies to the tournament, to everyboyd that had to come out. I know it stinks, I know the ramifications, I know it stinks. Certainly I apoligise to force everybody to come out here."
Who knows how important the Monday finish and resulting par will be for Kuchar when the top 125 is determined at the 2024 RSM Classic in November.
He might be made to look very smart.
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
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