Matt Kuchar is playing two tournaments this weekend.
David Jensen / Getty Images
Usually, the final 36 holes in a major-time golf tournament mean that two golfers duke it out for the title, mono e mono.
But this Sunday on the PGA Tour, not only will an estimated 69 golfers battle for the top spot on the season-ending Wyndham Championship leaderboard, but many will be vying for spots in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, which begin next week in Memphis. .
In fact, few players are in trouble for both competitions.
The opening round of the Wyndham Championship was washed out Thursday by heavy rain from Tropical Storm Debby. Play didn’t start until 9:50 am ET on Friday, meaning nearly half the field didn’t even finish the first round that day. Some golfers played as many as 26 holes on Saturday completing the first and second rounds, but a few did not complete the second round on Saturday. The game was called off at 8:20 p.m
What does that leave us with? After 20 golfers complete the second round and the Tour makes the cut — which should see as many as 70 players at four under or better — the third round will begin at 7:50 a.m., kicking off the PGA Tour race on Sunday.
Players will tee off in threesomes from the split tees and will continue through 36 holes without making adjustments between the third and fourth rounds. On CBS Saturday evening, Jim Nnatz said the PGA Tour estimates the final group will need to start the final round around 3:10 p.m. to get the entire tournament into play.
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“What about the playoffs?” Nantz joked.
Even if it doesn’t end up being more golf on what will be an epic Sunday on the PGA Tour, it may feel like it to a few players, including the leader, Matt Kuchar.
Kuchar was part of the first/last wave to finish at the horn and made four birdies on the second nine to post his second straight 64 and take a one-over-three lead with another golfer at 12 under. That is exactly his position requirements this week.
Kuchar is the only player to have played in all 17 FedEx Cup Playoffs, but as he enters this week ranked 111th in the season standings, he needs a win to extend the streak to 18.
He tries to keep that away from his mind.
“I don’t think too much about it. Listen, I try to play well every week,” said Kuchar on Saturday night. “It didn’t work, I’m glad it worked this week.
“I was telling someone yesterday that I don’t focus on my point, where I stand. I just don’t know how that helps you play good golf. I think you show up every week, you come out with the mindset of trying to play championship golf, trying to win tournaments. Focusing on whatever score you need seems to make it difficult for you to play good golf.”
It’s the second straight event Kuchar has been in contention after taking the lead late in the final round of the 3M Championship a week before the Olympics.
But Sunday will be a different animal. Fortunately, this won’t be Kuchar’s first time playing 36 this year. The 46-year-old should have qualified for the US Open earlier this summer in classic fashion, making it through the 36-hole “Longest Day of Golf” final at The Bear’s Club.
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“I have a built-in confidence that I know a month or two ago when I was at the bottom of the US Open qualifiers,” he said. “He can walk 36 in the heat and humidity without much problem. This place has a few hills, but I still feel good about my health, my stamina, the ability to try to walk in this heat and humidity. I’m glad I grew up in central Florida and know these things well. Tonight you try to put in as much water as you can to make the future easier.”
Assuming all goes as planned and there are no further delays, some players could end up playing as many as 39 holes on Sunday. And for those not at the top of the leaderboard, the stakes will be just as high.
Only the top 70 in the rankings after Sunday will advance to Memphis and while Kuchar is currently the only player expected to take the field next week, there is more outside the bubble.
With Kuchar stepping in, last week’s Olympic favorite, Victor Perez is expected to be the only exit. Perez was 71 at the top to start the week, but stepped into the spot when the Tour unseated the late Grayson Murray.
Perez was in and out all afternoon Saturday. He made three birdies on the front nine to climb to a projected high of 70 but then made back-to-back 6s on the back to fall to 71st. He birdied 17 and was nine feet from one as darkness began to fall on 18, but missed. As things stand now, he needs to make two shots and finish T15 or better to advance.
Joining Perez at five under is Davis Riley, who won the PGA Tour this season, but still finds himself at 72.
“It’s always in your mind somewhere,” Riley said, pausing. “But at the same time, I have enough to take my mind and try to hit golf shots and stay hydrated and stay cool and all that stuff.
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“Yeah, to get there to get a place to play and have a chance to get to East Lake would be pretty special.”
Riley also needs to finish in the top 15 as things stand.
Chad Ramey, the runner-up, like Kuchar needs to win.
Another shot back is Beau Hossler who needs a top-3 finish.
Then there’s Keith Mitchell who is tied for 19th, but may also need something like a top-3 finish to make it to Memphis. He likened Sunday to a two-minute football workout.
“We might be down 9, I might need to throw- go to the 2 and kick a field goal, you never know,” Mitchell joked.
It’s safe to say, Sunday could be the longest “two minute” workout ever.
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