5 things to know from first round of 2024 Wyndham Championship

Matt Kuchar has been beaten by a lot of golfers this year, missing seven of eight cuts during one stretch this season and entering this week needing to win to qualify for the FedEx Cup. But last week, he lost to his son, Cameron, an aspiring teenage golfer, in a match at Gozzer Ranch in Idaho.

“First time he’s taken me down. One of those days I knew was going to happen sooner or later, knew I’d be proud, but at the same time wanted to hold it off as long as I could,” said Kuchar, who shot 71 and was edged by a stroke. “He had to make a 12-footer to save par on the last and I was sure he was going to miss, I was sure pressure was going to get the best of him, but he canned it and was very excited.” 

Kuchar is attempting to hold on to another long-running streak – he’s the only player to qualify for the FedEx Cup in all 17 years since it debuted in 2007. At No. 112 in the standings, how much is he thinking about keeping that distinction alive for at least another year? Not much, he said.

“I’ve never seen how that can help you play better,” he said. “If you asked me where I stood, I wouldn’t know. Now we get those texts and I understand kind of where I stand with points. I don’t want to know how many points I need, I don’t want to know any of those things.”

Kuchar is coming off a T-3 at the 3M Open two weeks ago and spent some time with his instructor Chris O’Connell last week in Long Island. On Thursday, he picked up where he left off, shooting 6-under 64. Kuchar came home in 30, including four straight birdies beginning at No. 14. He made more than 126 feet in putts, gaining more than 4.5 strokes on the greens to lead the field in Strokes Gained: Putting among the early finishers.

“Fun way to finish today,” Kuchar said of his birdie streak.