Current:Home > MyMatt Kuchar bizarrely stops playing on 72nd hole of Wyndham Championship -FundGuru
Matt Kuchar bizarrely stops playing on 72nd hole of Wyndham Championship
View
Date:2025-04-12 23:26:28
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! (7)
Related
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- France's First Lady Brigitte Macron Breaks Royal Protocol During Meeting With Queen Camilla
- Philadelphia officer shot, killed 2 dogs that attacked young woman breaking up dog fight
- Tisha Campbell Shares She's Been in Remission From Sarcoidosis for 4 Years
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- New York Supreme Court judge seen shoving officer during brawl with neighbors will be replaced on the bench
- Tension soars as Israelis march through east Jerusalem, Gaza bombing intensifies and rockets land from Lebanon
- Ex-NJ attorney general testifies Sen. Bob Menendez confronted him twice over a pending criminal case
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Ironworker dies after falling nine stories at University of Chicago construction site
Ranking
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- Political newcomer who blew whistle on Trump faces experienced foes in Democratic primary
- Mistrial declared for man charged with using a torch to intimidate at white nationalist rally
- Not 'brainwashed': Miranda Derrick hits back after portrayal in 'Dancing for the Devil'
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Giant Joro spiders can fly for miles and devour butterflies, but they're also very shy. Here's what to know as they spread.
- 2024 Kids' Choice Awards nominees announced
- High school seniors pull off 'epic' prank, convince Maryland town a Trader Joe's is coming
Recommendation
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Survivor Winner Michele Fitzgerald and The Challenge Alum Devin Walker Are Dating
Cleveland woman indicted for fatal stabbing of 3-year-old at Giant Eagle, video released
Last time Oilers were in Stanley Cup Final? What to know about Canada's NHL title drought
DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
High school seniors pull off 'epic' prank, convince Maryland town a Trader Joe's is coming
Dolly Parton developing Broadway musical based on her life story
Is my large SUV safe? Just 1 of 3 popular models named 'Top Safety Pick' after crash tests