Matt Kuchar had a six-shot lead at one point on Saturday at the World Wide Technology Championship.
And after that, he wasn’t. Golf took place. Once again, the most unpredictable of games raised its ugly head, as Kuchar triple bogeyed the 15th hole, a par-4. This came following a 7-under 29 on his first nine, which featured a bogey.
Although Kuchar has not won a major tournament on the PGA TOUR since the 2019 Sony Open in Hawaii, he has been very consistent. Kuchar is the only person to have advanced to the FedExCup Playoffs in every year they have been held. That equates to 17 years of exceptionally talented body of work that is regarded as the best on the TOUR.
Despite the late-round stumble Kuchar, at 45, is still firmly in the mix for another TOUR title , his 10th.
After 54 holes, he and Camilo Villegas are tied for the lead at 19 under. This is the first time since 2017 when two TOUR players who are 40 years of age or older have shared the lead at 54 holes.
“Play golf. Each and every hole is equally valuable and significant. I shoot five under, and there are several ways you may interpret it. I had a 5 under today and played excellent golf. I’m here because I truly like where my game is at. I can usually handle that stuff with relative ease. I’ll aim to play some solid golf tomorrow after letting that one go.” Kuchar said.
After shooting 6-under 66 on Saturday, Erik van Rooyen sits one back at 18 under. Van Rooyen entered the week ranked 125th in the FedExCup rankings, so a strong week for him would have a significant impact on his position going into 2024. As of right now, his estimated position is all the way up to 90th.
He stated, “It would mean everything.”
A shot farther back at 17 under and tied for fourth are Will Gordon, Justin Suh, and Mackenzie Hughes, whose 9-under 63 was equal for the lowest round of the day.
With three consecutive birdies from Nos. 12 to 14, Kuchar’s 7-under opening nine was undoubtedly a precursor to Moving Day in Mexico. A 59 was mentioned.
“Matt was kind of escaping, but because golf is strange, he returned to us.” Vilegas said.
On hole number 15, Kuchar dragged his tee shot into the native area. Unable to locate the ball, he had to retee. The ball took him three tries to get it to land on the putting surface (two chips were rolled back down the slope in front of the green). To exacerbate the situation, he also bogeyed the 16th par-3 hole and was unable to capitalise on the 18th par-5 when his tee shot found itself in the fairway bunker.
“That was two shots in one shot, given the awful drive. That is a 70-yard-wide fairway. Really, I hit that one while I was asleep. I just tried to ride the wind, and I wish I could get that one back. This course has some trickiness to it. That 15th hole is one I think we all have circled I think this could be a big number and for me it was today.” Kuchar said of 15.
Despite his difficulties reaching the finish line, Kuchar maintains a share of the 54-hole lead in Mexico. The only player in history (1983–present) to make a quadruple bogey or worse in the third round of a major championship tour (TOUR) and still lead by 54 holes is Shawn Stefani. That occurred at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in 2013. That occurred at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in 2013.
“I’m happy with the way my game is going, and I’m playing some excellent golf. It was great fun out there, and I had everything going smoothly. I made probably only one terrible swing.” Kuchar said.
With his sixth-place finish on the Tour this season in bogey avoidance, Kuchar’s quadruple bogey on Saturday was just golf being golf. And with 18 holes remaining in the World Wide Technology Championship, Kuchar still has a great chance to reach double digit victories for his PGA TOUR career.
“I still think I’m playing extremely excellent golf overall. Though I’d really like to be six shots ahead of where I am right now, I’m in a good place and eager for tomorrow.” Kuchar said smiling.
