TPC Boston, MA …
Emirates Australian Open invitee Matt Kuchar will forever have a romantic connection with Australia.
Golf Australia was delighted last week to confirm Kuchar will be contesting this year’s Emirates Australian Open to be held from 15th to 18th November at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.
It will be the third occasion the golfer affectionately known a ‘Kuch’ will have contested the Australian Open after making his debut in the 2000 event at Kingston Heath in Melbourne and then returning in 2011 at The Lakes.
Kuchar has also competed in the Australian PGA Championship while he was runner-up in the 2013 Australian Masters and along with team-mate Kevin Streelman the duo finished runner-up behind hosts Australia in the 2013 World Cup of Golf of Golf in Melbourne.
Lizard Island
Three years ago, Kuchar captured his first victory on the Australasian Tour in winning the Fiji International.
But it was an event in the week after his 2000 Australian Open debut that the now 40-year old will also remember.
“My wife and I got married on Lizard Island and one of the islands off the Queensland coast and up on the Barrier Reef,” he said.
“It was Greg (Norman) who suggested Lizard Island and it is a fabulous place with Sybi (wife) and I having a fabulous time.
“I’ve always enjoyed Australia and I’m looking forward to returning later this year and with Lizard Island to always be special for Sybi and myself.
“Golf-wise, I’ve had some great experiences what with playing the World Cup, Presidents Cup along with three Australian Open’s, the Australian Masters and the Australian PGA.
“So, I’m naturally a big fan of the country and the golf. I can’t remember too much about The Lakes.”
However, Kochhar was staring at an anxious few days ahead of American Ryder Cup Captain, Jim Furyk announcing at 5pm local time Philadelphia three of his four USA team picks.
Kuchar has pulled on the USA Team colours in the past five Ryder Cup including savouring a first success two years ago at Hazeltine but with the 40-year old not expecting to be afforded next Tuesday a Jim Furyk ‘captain’s’ pick.
Kuchar ended the 2018 USA Team automatic qualifying process 13th on the points table and five places shy of earning a trip to Versailles.
On Tuesday at 5pm US Eastern time, Furyk will announce three of his four ‘captain’s’ picks and with the likes of Bryson DeChambeau (9th on the points list), Phil Mickelson (10th) and Tiger Woods (11th) odds-on to win Furyk’s favour.
Kuchar could be handed the fourth and final pick that Furyk will announce soon after next week’s BMW Championship but is not confident of hearing his name read out.
“I have not spoken with Jim and I’m not confident of getting a pick,” said Kuchar in speaking to AFP after posting a level par 71 on the opening day of the Dell Technologies Championship near Boston.
“It would like to be afforded a pick and that would be great.
“In looking at the table you have Byrson, Phil and Tiger as the next three after the eight that qualified, so you’ve got the experience of Phil and Tiger then looking down the table you have Xander (Schauffele) and Tony Finau so if the experience of playing in the last five Ryder Cup’s is going to play in my favour then that is where it will come.
“I certainly have not earned a pick given my place on the points table nor the way I have played this year.
“So, I would hope that it does boil down to on Tuesday when Jim makes his announcement that my experience will count as I do feel that if you want someone to be out there needing someone you can trust to put on a good performance in a Ryder Cup then I feel like I am the guy you can count on.
“I’m a good steady player who is not going to let you down.”
Kuchar also has the experience of contesting the 2013 French Open at Le National albeit finishing just inside the top-50 and 16 shots behind tearaway winner, Graeme McDowell.
“I enjoyed the experience of playing the French Open a few years back, so maybe that may also help,” he said.
“But we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Of course, the certain selection of Woods will leave a vice-captain’s vacancy that Kuchar could still fill.
“It would an honour to go to France either as a player or a vice-captain.”
