Kuchar’s PGA win a boost for Australian Open
THE timing couldn’t have been better for the Australian Open as American star Matt Kuchar finally rediscovered his winning touch.
With the big three of Jason Day, Adam Scott and Marc Leishman missing this week’s national Open at The Lakes in Sydney, the organisers are looking to a clutch of internationals en route to next week’s World Cup of Golf in Melbourne to help boost crowds.
Among them is Kuchar, now an eight-time US PGA Tour winner. The American hadn’t tasted victory for four years and 115 starts before breaking the drought at the Mayakoba Classic in Mexico yesterday.
Kuchar won with a 22under 262, the lowest 72-hole score in tournament history.
But it wasn’t easy as his closing two-under 69 was only just enough for a one-shot win over New Zealand’s fast-finishing Danny Lee (65).
The win brightens a disappointing year in which 40year-old Kuchar finished out of the top 70 on the PGA Tour money list for the first time since 2007 and failed to make the Ryder Cup team for the first time in 10 years.
“My 2018 wasn’t what I wanted,” Kuchar said. “This is a high note. It’s amazing thing to get a win.”
He added Mayakoba to his schedule at the last minute and hired a local caddie from El Camaleon, with his regular caddie having previous plans.
Kuchar referred to the week as a “working vacation” because of the beaches and amenities at Mayakoba, though it felt like work at the end.
“Golf is such a funny game,” he said. “It’s hard to predict when it’s going to come around.”
India’s Anirban Lahiri, who also is en route to the Australian Open, finished tied 10th.
Young Sydneysider Cameron Davis finished tied 48th as he prepares to defend the Australian Open title he won from a field including Day and Jordan Spieth at The Australian last year.
IN A unique twist, England’s Lee Westwood broke a drought of exactly the same length as Kuchar in winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club in South Africa.
Both Kuchar and Westwood won their previous events on April 20, 2014.
Westwood bagged five birdies on his back nine to storm to victory on Sunday night in the European Tour event.
Westwood carded a faultless 64 that included an eagle and six birdies for a tournament total of 15 under par, three shots ahead of overnight leader, Spaniard Sergio Garcia.
Garcia, who had led from the first round into Sunday, could manage only a 70 as his two-shot overnight advantage was swallowed up by West- wood’s magnificent finish.
Australia’s Jason Scrivener, who had been tied 14th after Saturday, finished in joint 16th place on two under with compatriot Wade Ormbsy, who carded a fine final-round 67.
Englishman Westwood secured a 24th European Tour title, the eighth most of all time, and a third at the Nedbank Golf Challenge after previous wins in 2010, when he was ranked the number one golfer in the world, and 2011.
“I’m a bit emotional,” a tearful Westwood said. “You are never sure if you can do it again. And I needed to.’’