Matt Kuchar couldn’t help but flash his million-dollar smile. He still had another shot to attempt, but when Matt Jones’ 40-yard chip shot dropped into the cup for birdie on the first playoff hole of the Shell Open on Sunday in Houston, Kuchar couldn’t help but laugh a little.
Sure enough, Kuchar’s bunker shot ended up short. He was beaten in a final round again. But he didn’t walk away looking for a sword to fall on.
“I’ve played well for two weeks,” said Kuchar, who brings a No. 7 world ranking to the Masters. “That’s the way I look at it. I’ve played really good golf for two weeks, and I’m really excited for this week.”
Kuchar bogeyed the 72nd hole of regulation in Houston — he pulled his 216-yard approach shot into the water — while Jones rolled in a 46-foot birdie putt to send the tournament into a playoff.
Kuchar had a similar final-round fade the previous week at the Valero Texas Open. After grabbing a share of the lead on the front nine, he bogeyed three of the first five holes on the back. He ended up shooting 75 and finishing in a tie for fourth.
It’s at this point that one has to wonder, does Kuchar have a closing problem?
“No,” Kuchar stated emphatically after his practice round Wednesday. “You just try to make improvements. I’ve proven myself to have won some pretty big tournaments. I’m looking forward to continuing to put myself in those situations and have more opportunities.”
Kuchar would like to be in that situation Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club. And the odds seem good that he might. He has encountered similar scenarios in his past two Masters.
In 2012, Kuchar was tied for the lead on the back nine before falling back with a bogey on 16 and watching Bubba Watson win in a playoff. He was also in the hunt last year, but shot a final-round 73 to finish in a tie for eighth.
But in Kuchar’s mind, those are accomplishments, not failings. They’re blocks on which to build.
“I’ve had some good success here,” said Kuchar, who is playing in his eighth Masters since first appearing as an amateur in 1998. “My game’s gotten better and better. I’m real happy with the trend of my game. It just seems to have made little improvements every year, and I feel like I’m in good form. I’m looking forward to a good week this week.”
Those who follow professional golf closely see Kuchar not just as a contender, but as one of the favorites.
“I like his chances this week because he didn’t win last week,” said Curtis Strange, one of ESPN golf analysts who will call the first two rounds. “I think he comes in here hungrier; I think he comes in here aggravate; I think he comes in here eager to play well. Obviously he’s playing well because of last week, and he’s played well all year long. So I like him this week.”
Said Kuchar: “I don’t know if I’m agitated or aggravated, but certainly I’m hungry to continue the good play. I’m not in that complacent category by any means.”
Kuchar’s Masters play has been trending upward since he first played here as a Georgia Tech sophomore in 1998. With the exception of 2002 when he missed the cut, he has generally gotten better and better as a pro. Of his six rounds in the 60s, five have some in the past three years.
But to win here, Kuchar will have to play better in the final round. He’s averaging 73 strokes on the last 18 holes, with a low of 69 in 2012.
And it’s not like Kuchar hasn’t finished strong. He has six PGA Tour victories — including the 2012 Players Championship — and four on other tours. He has won more than $26 million in prize money. His reputation is for consistent play and for almost always being in contention.
Now Kuchar is starting to field the questions that all the great ones have to field: “When will you finally win a major?” and “why haven’t you been able to win a major?”
“Yeah, that’s new for me,” Kuchar said. “I’ve proven myself to be a really good player, and I’m kind of one of those next guys. It’s not a bad deal to be in. It means you’re a good player.”
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