SOUTHPORT, England – Matt Kuchar was five holes away from immortality.
Five holes away at the 2017 British Open here at Royal Birkdale from having his name permanently inscribed on the Claret Jug, golf's oldest trophy, and a spot in the British Open field until he turns 60. Instead, he got steamrolled by Jordan Spieth and one of the great final-round flourishes in major championship history and failed to qualify for the 154th Open this week. From nearly being the Champion Golfer of the Year to not in the field since 2021 and never really sniffing the ******* le again.
"It felt like it was in my hands and all of a sudden Jordan Spieth put on a show and claimed it for himself," Kuchar tells Golfweek in a recent phone interview. "Listen, I got beat but it's tough when at some point you feel like you got that close. I think that makes it even tougher."
More: Golfweek's Father of the Year is Matt Kuchar, who found 'magic' in emotional golf victory
Birkdale was the site of Kuchar's first British Open in 1998 as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, where he missed the cut as he did in 2008 but in 2017 he shot 65 out of the gate to make his presence felt in the battle for the Claret Jug.
Five holes away at the 2017 British Open here at Royal Birkdale from having his name permanently inscribed on the Claret Jug, golf's oldest trophy, and a spot in the British Open field until he turns 60. Instead, he got steamrolled by Jordan Spieth and one of the great final-round flourishes in major championship history and failed to qualify for the 154th Open this week. From nearly being the Champion Golfer of the Year to not in the field since 2021 and never really sniffing the ******* le again.
"It felt like it was in my hands and all of a sudden Jordan Spieth put on a show and claimed it for himself," Kuchar tells Golfweek in a recent phone interview. "Listen, I got beat but it's tough when at some point you feel like you got that close. I think that makes it even tougher."
More: Golfweek's Father of the Year is Matt Kuchar, who found 'magic' in emotional golf victory
Birkdale was the site of Kuchar's first British Open in 1998 as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, where he missed the cut as he did in 2008 but in 2017 he shot 65 out of the gate to make his presence felt in the battle for the Claret Jug.
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