Current:Home > MyMatt Kuchar bizarrely stops playing on 72nd hole of Wyndham Championship -AssetTrainer
Matt Kuchar bizarrely stops playing on 72nd hole of Wyndham Championship
View
Date:2025-04-19 15:06:47
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! (551)
Related
- 2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
- The Walz record: Abortion rights, free lunches for schoolkids, and disputes over a riot response
- 'I am sorry': Texas executes Arthur Lee Burton for the 1997 murder of mother of 3
- Colin Farrell Details Son James' Battle With Rare Neurogenetic Disorder
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Top US health official acknowledges more federal money for utility help is needed for extreme heat
- RFK Jr. closer to getting on New Jersey ballot after judge rules he didn’t violate ‘sore loser’ law
- Jay Kanter, veteran Hollywood producer and Marlon Brando agent, dies at 97: Reports
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Gypsy Rose Blanchard Reveals She Just Hit This Major Pregnancy Milestone
Ranking
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Claim to Fame Reveal of Michael Jackson's Relative Is a True Thriller
- Louisiana high court temporarily removes Judge Eboni Johnson Rose from Baton Rouge bench amid probe
- Drones warned New York City residents about storm flooding. The Spanish translation was no bueno
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- US Open player compensation rises to a record $65 million, with singles champs getting $3.6 million
- Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy case reaches 'impasse' over NIL information for CU star
- The 'Rebel Ridge' trailer is here: Get an exclusive first look at Netflix movie
Recommendation
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
Olympic medals today: What is the medal count at 2024 Paris Games on Thursday?
Harris and Walz are showing their support for organized labor with appearance at Detroit union hall
Tribe Sues Interior Department Over Approval of Arizona Lithium Project
Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
TikToker Nara Smith Addresses Hateful Criticism She and Husband Lucky Blue Smith Have Received
Daughter of Utah death row inmate navigates complicated dance of grief and healing before execution
Could we talk ourselves into a recession?