TOP 20 IN THEIR 20s: Matt Kuchar  Editor's Note: We begin our Top 20 in their 20s feature as PGATOUR.com counts down the top golfers on the PGA TOUR aged 20-29 over the next three weeks. The list is based on 14 statistical categories, including TOUR wins, Official World Golf Ranking, percentage of time spent in the top 10 throughout their career and 2007 FedExCup performance. Learn more about the man in the 20th spot: Matt Kuchar.
Matt Kuchar is still in his twenties? Believe it or not, Kuchar has over six months to go before he reaches the big 3-0. It just seems like the 29-year-old has been around for much longer since he's been drawing recognition for years. A star golfer at Georgia Tech, Kuchar garnered attention while tying for 21st at the 1998 Masters at the age of 19 and placing 14th at the U.S. Open later that year. His earlier victory at the 1997 U.S. Amateur had propelled him into the spotlight, but those two major performances made him a household name. Would Kuchar be the one to dethrone Tiger Woods? Yet the two-time All American didn't join the TOUR after his impressive showing at the majors during his sophomore season, instead continuing his successful collegiate career and graduating in 2000 with a degree in management. By 2002, his hard work had paid off as he managed to win his first event on the PGA TOUR.
"To win a PGA TOUR event, I wasn't sure if it would happen as soon as it did. I knew it would happen. I always dreamed and knew that I would win and that I would win a lot, but I wasn't sure that it would happen this soon," Kuchar said after winning The Honda Classic in 2002. "I'm a 23-year-old kid, hardly just two years out of school, and now here I am, champion of The Honda Classic. It's exciting for me. I'm thrilled." He earned well over $1 million that season and captured the hearts of female admirers when People magazine recognized him in their "Most Eligible Bachelor" edition in 2002 (Sorry, ladies, he's now happily married). Then came the reality check. The NBT (Next Big Thing) struggled in 2003 and fell to No. 183 on the TOUR Money List. He finished outside the top 125 again in 2004 and 2005. Suddenly Kuchar was playing on the Nationwide Tour in 2006 to recapture his TOUR card. The Florida native missed the cut in six of the eight tournaments he played on the PGA TOUR in 2006 but edged Paul Claxton on the third playoff hole to earn his first Nationwide Tour victory at the Henrico County Open. Four other top-10 Nationwide Tour finishes placed him 10th on the money list and sent him back to the PGA TOUR in '07. His upswing continued as Kuchar had his best showing since 2002 this past season thanks to two top-10s. The former Yellow Jacket even captured a tie for third at the AT&T Classic in Atlanta. Can the still-young Kuchar reclaim his former glory days? Stay tuned to find out. Who will be No. 19? Hint: Like Kuchar, tomorrow's golfer is a product of the Atlantic Coast Conference and was named ACC Rookie of the Year as a freshman. |
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