Current:Home > reviewsMatt Kuchar bizarrely stops playing on 72nd hole of Wyndham Championship -Trailblazer Capital Learning
Matt Kuchar bizarrely stops playing on 72nd hole of Wyndham Championship
View
Date:2025-04-18 05:16:25
Aaron Rai won his first PGA Tour title on Sunday, claiming a two-stroke win at the Wyndham Championship.
But the tournament didn't officially end as darkness fell on Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina.
That's because Matt Kuchar bizarrely stopped playing after hitting his tee shot on the 18th hole, opting to mark his ball in the pine straw 212 yards from the hole and walk the course with the other players in the last group as they completed their rounds.
"It has been a really bizarre sequence of events," said CBS Sports analyst Trevor Immelman as the network's broadcast came to a close.
Kuchar led the tournament after 36 holes, but was out of contention at 11-under when he stepped to the 18th tee to conclude a marathon, 36-hole day stemming from weather delays due to Tropical Storm Debby.
With the sun already set and visibility declining, tournament officials informed Kuchar, Chad Ramey and Max Greyserman that rather than blow the horn to suspend play, they would be allowed to finish the hole then or complete it the next day.
In an apparent attempt to finish quickly, Kuchar unknowingly hit into the group ahead of him, one that included Rai – who led Greyserman by one stroke at the time.
"Why did he tee off on 18 when the fairway wasn’t clear? To me that was the egregious error," Golf Channel’s Paige Mackenzie later said. "It was completely disrespectful."
After Kuchar's ball landed left of the fairway, he informed officials he would finish his round Monday morning – even though he had no chance of advancing to the PGA Tour's playoffs. As things turned out, Rai birdied the final hole to push his lead to two strokes and Greyserman closed with a par to finish second.
As the sun rose again on Monday, Kuchar was the only player back out on the course to make the results official.
He hit his second shot on the green and parred the hole to finish in a tie for 12th, earning him $134,695.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (8666)
Related
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- Netflix plans documentary on Michigan Wolverines football sign-stealer
- Where Ben Affleck Was While Jennifer Lopez Celebrated Her Birthday in the Hamptons
- ACC commissioner Jim Phillips vows to protect league amid Clemson, Florida State lawsuits
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- In Washington state, Inslee’s final months aimed at staving off repeal of landmark climate law
- Kamala Harris' campaign says it raised more than $100 million after launch
- Josh Hartnett Makes Rare Comment About His Kids With Tamsin Egerton
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- As doctors leave Puerto Rico in droves, a rapper tries to fill the gaps
Ranking
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- Kathy Hilton Reacts to Kyle Richards' Ex Mauricio Umansky Kissing Another Woman
- Will Sha'carri Richardson run in the Olympics? What to know about star at Paris Games
- Holding out for a hero? Here are the 50 best, from Deadpool to Han Solo
- Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
- Holding out for a hero? Here are the 50 best, from Deadpool to Han Solo
- Mark Carnevale, former PGA Tour winner and golf broadcaster, dies a week after working his last tournament
- Miss Kansas Alexis Smith Calls Out Her Alleged Abuser Onstage in Viral Video
Recommendation
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
Kandi Burruss’ Must-Haves for Busy People Include These Hand Soap Sheets You Won’t Leave Home Without
Pope Francis calls for Olympic truce for countries at war
Silicon Valley-backed voter plan for a new California city won’t be on the November ballot after all
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
3 Army Reserve officers disciplined after reservist killed 18 people last October in Maine
Paris Olympics: LeBron James to Serve as Flagbearer for Team USA at Opening Ceremony
Instagram is rolling out changes to Notes. Here's what to know