Kuchar is prepared, but when will he win again?

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Since winning The Honda Classic in 2002, Matt Kuchar has made 154 TOUR starts and is still seeking his second win.

Matt Kuchar may not win before the PGA TOUR season is over, but he will win again at some point in his career. And when he does, it might just open the door to more victories. It's all about preparation and the perpetually positive Kuchar appears to be ready for big-time success.

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He came close last week at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, finishing second behind wire-to-wire winner Mark Turnesa. It was Kuchar's fifth top-10 of the year and amazingly the first time he'd made a cut since June 22.

Seven consecutive missed cuts could demoralize anyone. Yet despite the weeks of potential discouragement, Kuchar remained hard at work, beating balls and working on a one-plane swing under the eye of swing coach Chris O'Connell, a disciple of noted instructor Jim Hardy.

It all comes down to being prepared. Kuchar wants his swing to be ready when he finds himself in contention. He touched on the preparation issue last week when waiting for Justin Timberlake to bring sexy back.

"I've always thought of it like giving a speech," Kuchar said. "If you're prepared on the subject, it's not a big deal to give a speech. If you don't know the subject very well, it's very nerve-wracking and difficult."

Kuchar has been preparing for success on the TOUR since his days at Georgia Tech. He'll always be remembered for winning the 1997 U.S. Amateur and gaining attention with his big smile and his big performance in the 1998 Masters, where he was 21st, and the 1998 U.S. Open, where he was 14th.

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Many observers expected -- some begged -- Kuchar to leave the Yellow Jackets and become a professional. He wasn't ready and left a million bucks worth of endorsements on the table to return to Tech. He wasn't finished being a college student and was in no hurry to give up that part of his life, even though it cost him plenty of money. To this day he remains close to the Tech program and coach Bruce Heppler, who shows up to watch Kuchar whenever he gets the opportunity.

Once Kuchar turned pro -- after spending a year working as an investment banker -- he was ready. He made enough money in 2001 through a series of sponsor's exemptions that he was able to avoid q-school and earn his card. He won the Honda Classic in 2002 and seemed to be on his way.

But he really wasn't fully prepared -- ah, that word again -- for the rigors of the TOUR. Three unfulfilling years passed and he had to retreat and retrench on the Nationwide Tour.

In 2006, Kuchar won on the Nationwide Tour and proved he could compete in a league where the motto should be "Go low or go home." He earned a promotion back to the TOUR in 2007 and hasn't had any problems staying there.

This season has been Kuchar's best on TOUR. Despite a recent drought, he earned a career-best $1.4 million and was in contention at some big places: Colonial, Harbour Town, Murfield. He didn't win, but he was in the mix with top 10s in each of the three.

Kuchar isn't in the field this week for the Frys.com Open, but he'll probably play at least one of the final two tournaments in Florida. He would prefer to shut it down for the season and enjoy some downtime with his wife, Sybi, and their son Cameron, who recently celebrated his first birthday but wants to ensure he finishes in the top 70 on the money list. He's currently No. 67. Finishing in the top 70 would get him qualified for various invitationals, like the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

It's all part of being prepared for the next level. And Matt Kuchar is prepared.

Stan Awtrey is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.