Matt Kuchar’s trademark smile disappeared again on Thursday.
The American bickered with PGA Tour officials at The Memorial over whether his tee shot on the 17th hole ended up in his own pitch mark or that of another player. You are allowed to move your ball out of the mark if it came from your ball, but that did not appear the case here despite Kuchar’s insistence.
Kuchar disagreed with the first official and asked for a second to be called in. Playing partner Rickie Fowler even sided with the officials, according to reports. A cameraman was called in so Kuchar could view a replay of the shot, which showed the ball taking a couple of bounces before settling into the other, pre-existing pitch mark.
Kuchar’s friendly image was tarnished earlier this year when news of him tipping a substitute caddie $5,000 on a $1.3 million victory at the Mayakoba Classic leaked out. After taking a public relations beating, Kuchar relented to the caddie’s request for additional compensation.
This latest curious incident puts Kuchar back in the spotlight.
“That is the most amusing thing I’ve ever seen someone try to get a ruling on,” Jack Nicklaus, who runs The Memorial tournament, said on the broadcast.
“It’s been quite a year for Matt Kuchar as he leads the PGA Tour in both money and s–thousery,” English golfer Eddie Pepperell posted on Twitter.
Kuchar, who is second on the PGA Tour money list this season, parred that 17th hole and finished the round with a 1-over 73.
“The rules officials, they know the rules a lot better than I do,” Kuchar, the 2003 champ at The Memorial, said afterward. “I thought there was potential that it might have broken additional ground and is that a new embedded ball. I’m not sure, and that’s why we have the rules officials.”
Source: Read Full Article