Matt Kuchar is enjoying two tournaments this weekend.
David Jensen/Getty Photos
Sometimes, 36-hole ultimate days in big-time championship golf imply two golfers duking it out for a title, mono e mono.
However this Sunday on the PGA Tour, not solely will roughly 69 golfers be battling for a spot atop the common season-ending Wyndham Championship leaderboard, however many will probably be duking it out for locations within the FedEx Cup Playoffs, which start subsequent week in Memphis.
Actually, just a few gamers are within the thick of each competitions.
The opening spherical of the Wyndham Championship was washed out Thursday by heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Debby. Play didn’t start till 9:50 a.m. ET on Friday, which means almost half the sector didn’t even full the primary spherical that day. Some golfers performed as many as 26 holes Saturday ending each the primary and second rounds, however then just a few didn’t even end the second spherical Saturday. Play was suspended at 8:20 p.m.
What does that go away us with? After 20 golfers end up the second spherical and the Tour administers a minimize — which ought to see about 70 gamers at 4 beneath or higher— the third spherical will get began at 7:50 a.m., kicking off a marathon PGA Tour Sunday.
Gamers will go off in threesomes from cut up tees and so they’ll maintain going for 36 holes with out repairing between the third and fourth rounds. On the CBS broadcast Saturday night, Jim Nnatz mentioned the PGA Tour was estimating the ultimate group would want to start the ultimate spherical round 3:10 p.m. to get the entire event in.
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“What concerning the playoff?” Nantz joked.
Even when there doesn’t find yourself being further golf on what’s going to be an epic Sunday on the PGA Tour, it could really feel prefer it for a number of gamers, together with the chief, Matt Kuchar.
Kuchar was a part of the early/late wave who completed simply because the horn blew and made 4 birdies on his second 9 to submit his second-straight 64 and lead by one over three golfers at 12 beneath. That’s precisely the place he wants this week.
Kuchar is the one participant to take part in all 17 editions of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, however getting into the week ranked 111th within the season-long standings, he wants a win to increase the streak to 18.
He’s making an attempt to maintain that far-off from the entrance of his thoughts.
“I actually don’t assume a lot about it. Pay attention, I attempt to play effectively each week,” Kuchar mentioned Saturday evening. “Definitely not labored out, glad it’s labored out this week.
“I used to be telling any individual yesterday I don’t concentrate on my level positioning, the place I stand. I simply don’t understand how that lets you play good golf. I believe you present up every week, you exit with the thought of making an attempt to play championship golf, making an attempt to win tournaments. Specializing in no matter factors you want looks like solely makes it harder on your self to play good golf.”
It’s the second straight occasion Kuchar has been in competition after he held the lead late in the course of the ultimate spherical of the 3M Championship the week earlier than the Olympics.
However Sunday will probably be a distinct animal. Fortunately, this received’t be the primary time Kuchar has performed 36 this 12 months. The 46-year-old needed to qualify for the U.S. Open earlier this summer time the old school means, going by ultimate qualifying on “Golf’s Longest Day” at The Bear’s Membership for 36 holes.
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“I’ve received some built-in confidence understanding {that a} month or two in the past after I was down on the U.S. Open qualifying,” he mentioned. “Capable of stroll 36 within the warmth and humidity with out an excessive amount of downside. This place has just a few extra hills, however I nonetheless be ok with my well being, my health, capability to attempt to go on this warmth and humidity. Glad I grew up in central Florida and know these items fairly effectively. Tonight you attempt to hydrate as greatest as you’ll be able to to make tomorrow a bit of simpler.”
Assuming all goes as deliberate and there are not any extra delays, some gamers might find yourself enjoying as many as 39 holes on Sunday. And even for these not on the high of the leaderboard, the stakes will probably be simply as excessive.
Solely the highest 70 within the standings after Sunday will advance to Memphis and whereas Kuchar is at the moment the one participant projected to maneuver into subsequent week’s area, there are lots extra simply outdoors the bubble.
With Kuchar shifting in, final week’s Olympic darling, Victor Perez is projected to be the one man shifting out. Perez was 71st within the standings to start the week, however moved into the bubble place when the Tour eliminated the late Grayson Murray from the standings.
Perez was shifting out and in all afternoon Saturday. He made three birdies on the entrance 9 to climb into the projected high 70 however then made back-to-back 6s on the again to fall to 71st. He birdied 17 and had 9 toes for one more as darkness began falling on 18, however missed it. As issues stand now, he must make up two pictures and end T15 or higher to maneuver on.
Becoming a member of Perez at 5 beneath is Davis Riley, a winner on the PGA Tour this season, however nonetheless finds himself projected 72nd.
“It’s at all times behind your thoughts someplace,” Riley mentioned of the standing. “However on the similar time, I’ve received sufficient to occupy my thoughts with on the market making an attempt to hit golf pictures and keep hydrated and keep cool and all that stuff.
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“Yeah, get there to get a playoff berth and have an opportunity to make it to East Lake could be fairly particular.”
Riley additionally wants to complete within the high 15 with how issues stand.
Chad Ramey, who’s tied for second, like Kuchar must win.
One shot additional again is Beau Hossler who wants a top-3.
Then there’s Keith Mitchell who’s tied for nineteenth, however doubtless additionally wants one thing like a top-3 to maneuver on to Memphis. He likened Sunday to a two-minute drill in soccer.
“We could be down 9, I’d have to throw— go for two and kick a area aim, you by no means know,” Mitchell joked.
Secure to say, Sunday might be the longest “two-minute” drill of all time.
