Matt Kuchar controversially halted his round on the 72nd hole during the final day of the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship, creating a surprising twist at the event’s conclusion. As darkness fell over Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, Kuchar decided to stop his play after his opening shot on the 18th hole. This decision came despite his two fellow competitors in the final group completing their rounds and Kuchar being neither in contention for victory nor vying for a spot in the upcoming PGA Tour playoffs.
The unusual action was technically within the rules but disrupted the typical finish of the tournament, which ultimately saw Aaron Rai victorious. Kuchar plans to resume his play the following morning, aiming for a better finish and a larger share of the prize money. Currently, he is tied for 12th place with ten other players, and there are multiple scenarios that could follow his final shot. If he manages to hole out for an eagle, he could leap into a tie for sixth place, increasing his payout significantly. However, even with a birdie or bogey, he will not qualify for the postseason as the Wyndham Championship marks the conclusion of the regular season.
Kuchar’s reasoning for pausing play remains unclear, as he did not officially address the media on-site. However, golf journalist Jason Sobel reported that Kuchar had communicated his intentions to a Golf Channel reporter, indicating that he aimed to assist his playing partner, Max Greyserman, who was trailing Rai before gaining a birdie on the 18th.
The CBS announcers were left baffled by the sequence of events. “The tournament is over, but it’s not,” noted announcer Jim Nantz, as Kuchar was set to continue his round the next morning.
The sequence began as Kuchar started his tee shot on the 508-yard, par-4 18th hole at approximately 8:15 p.m., while Rai and his partner prepared for their subsequent shots. Although Kuchar could not see the leading group, he sent his tee shot into the rough, voicing frustration at his shot. Following his playing partners’ tee-off, a rules official informed them about the option to complete the hole or return the next day due to worsening light conditions.
Despite the unusual circumstances and ongoing confusion among the CBS broadcast team regarding the lack of a stoppage horn, the rules official confirmed that Kuchar had the discretion not to finish the hole and could return at a later time. Kuchar’s decision has brought commentary regarding the ethics of the situation; many were surprised that he would choose to stop playing when two of his partners continued to finish their rounds.