Player Profile - Matt Kuchar

This week’s player profile showcases American golfer Matt Kuchar, winner of the 2010 Barclay’s Championship.

Thirty-two year old Matthew G Kuchar is a native of Winter Park, Florida USA. Growing up in a part of the US noted for its magnificent golf courses and resorts, Kuchar was exposed to the game from a young age. Like many young American golfing hopefuls Kuchar cut his teeth on professional golf during his college years, playing on the golf team of Georgia Tech. During this time Kuchar was awarded the honour of being a first-team All-American, twice.

From an early stage in his career, Kuchar made his professional intentions clear by winning the US Amateur in 1997. He won the Fred Haskins award for the nation’s top collegiate golfer in 1998, and in the same year was the lowest amateur at the US Open and US Masters. In the year 2000 Kuchar turned pro and has enjoyed a successful career ever since.

After establishing himself on the PGA tour, Kuchar had his first taste of victory in 2002 when he won the Honda Classic. Following this win, Kuchar experienced a dry spell that caused him to lose his PGA exemption. His great performance on the Nationwide Tour in 2006, including victory at the Henrico County Open, allowed him to regain his place on the PGA Tour. With several top ten finishes in the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Kuchar convinced golfing fans that he was back in the game.

The past two years have seen Kuchar win twice on the PGA Tour. In 2009, he won the Turning Stone Resort Championship in a three-way playoff against compatriots Brad Faxon and Joey Sindelar. On the weekend, he was victorious once more when he won the Barclay’s Championship in a playoff against Scotland’s Martin Laird. On August 15th, Kuchar was selected for the US Ryder Cup team.

Matt Kuchar is a young and talented golfer on the US PGA Tour. His imposing physique and powerful drives combined with a precision short game have won him many fans in the United States and around the world. Kuchar is a player to be watched in the upcoming Ryder Cup and on the PGA Tour.