Kuchar holds on to end long drought, win Mayakoba Classic

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Matt Kuchar had gone four years, six months and three weeks since his last PGA Tour victory.

The last few holes on Sunday at the Mayakoba Golf Classic must have felt just as long.

Kuchar started the final round with a four-shot lead and made only two bogeys in the first 67 holes he played at El Camaleon Golf Club. And then he made back-to-back bogeys, Danny Lee holed a birdie putt from off the 16th green and Kuchar had no margin for error.

He finished with three pars, making nervy three-footers on the last two holes, to close with a 2-under 69 for a one-shot victory and a big sigh of relief.

“I didn’t want a three-footer on the last hole,” Kuchar said. “I was hoping to have a three or fourshot lead for some wiggle room. But man, that felt awfully good.”

Lee, the only player to sustain a serious threat against Kuchar, finished with two pars for a 65.

Kuchar still wasn’t entirely in the clear. His 15-foot birdie attempt on the 17th rolled about three-and-a-half feet by the hole, and he had to make that for par to stay in the lead. And on the final hole, he left his 30-foot birdie putt about three feet short and had to roll that in for the victory.

“That was some of the best ball-striking I’ve had, and through 60 some holes, awfully good putting,” Kuchar said. “And then the putter kind of went a little bit on the fritz there. Thrilled to be the champion here. It feels extra sweet right now.”

Kuchar, 40, had gone 115 starts on the PGA Tour since his last victory in the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head in April 2014.

Kuchar finished at 22-under 262, breaking by one the 72-hole record at Mayakoba previously held by Harris English.

PGA Tour rookie Cameron Champ had a 12-foot eagle attempt on the 13th hole that would have brought him within two shots, but he missed the putt and sent his next tee shot into the mangroves, making double bogey. He had another double bogey on the 17th hole and had to settle for a 69 to tie for 10th.

J.J. Spaun (66) and Richy Werenski (67) tied for third.

Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk closed with a 67 and was among those who tied for sixth.

Adam Hadwin (68) of Abbotsford tied for 10th at 16 under.