Suzanne Kemper, Scottsdale, AZ …

Sunny skies, calm conditions greeted 200,000 plus fans on Thursday and Friday at 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open, TPC Scottsdale’s 7261 yds, par-71 course.

Smiling 38-year old Matt Kuchar opened his 2017 PGA Tour campaign grabbing the first round lead with a sizzling 64 and then backing that up with a second day 69 to be among four players tied in third place and just a stroke behind the leading pair of Korean Byeong Hun An (66) and American Brendan Steele (67).

So, no rust there for ‘Kuch’!

But then Kuchar had not played for seven weeks and having remarked on day one his secret was “relaxing at home, basketball with the kids and their games, able to be Dad, and playing golf with my boys. We’d sneak out and play a few holes, so I wasn’t too rusty. Also some work with my instructor Chris O’Connell, showed in my great hitting. I’m hitting the ball beautifully, this is key out here, need to continue with that,”

Friday starting on the back, he kicked off with birdie on 10, then another on the par-5 13th. His first bogey at 14, then he really got irritated putting his drive in the water for bogey on 17. Kuchar settled and finished up with two more birdies coming in for a 69 for nine under par total

“Good steady round again today with the exception of 17,” smiled Kuchar.

“Happy to be back out here and playing so well, it was hard to sit and watch the guys in Hawaii and Palm Springs.”

Kuchar is seeking his first ‘W’ since 2014, surprising when you look at 2016’s nine top 10’s.

“Not much I can do is there? I’ve missed not making Kapalua the last couple of  years – a goal every year. All I can do is keep plotting away, give myself chances, and hope to find the winners circle again.”

Obviously a visit Thursday night after his 64 to the local Whole Foods didn’t hurt his momentum too much and keeps him up there in contention for his first winners circle here.