Former Tech golf star Matt Kuchar, Mgt 00, leads the PGA Tour with nine Top 10 finishes so far this year. And in four consecutive tournaments, the pro called “Kuch” by his fans found himself with at least a share of the Sunday lead—ultimately winning the RBC Heritage championship on a gutsy chip-in on the last hole. The Alumni Magazine recently caught up with Kuchar to get his take on why he’s been such a force on the course of late.
You’re currently ranked No. 3 in the FedEx Cup standings and No. 4 in the Official World Golf Rankings—you must be doing something right. What’s the secret to your recent success?
The last couple of years my game has gotten better and I’ve established a more consistent swing, thanks to my instructor Chris O’Connell. A few years ago I was introduced to Chris through Matt Weibring [Mgt 02], a close friend and former Tech teammate. Chris and I have put in a lot of work together to make my golf swing as stable and repeatable as possible, and he’s helped me take it to a completely new place.
What has been your most memorable moment of the golf season so far?Definitely the chip-in to win the RBC Heritage. Three weeks in a row I had good chances to win, and four Sundays in a row I had at least a share of the lead. I really came close in Houston [at the Shell Houston Open] where I had a one-shot lead heading into the 18th hole but lost to Matt Jones with his dramatic chip-in. Needless to say, losing that tournament bummed me out. It’s a really tough thing to win on the PGA Tour, so I’ll take a win whenever I can get one.
You’ve set the bar high with your performance; what do you hope to achieve the rest of the season?
I just want to keep playing strong. I don’t set exact goals with my golf game. There are so many things that you can’t control, and it’s not healthy to focus on winning a certain tournament. My overall goal is to continually improve. But playing at this level, those improvements are small and hard to come by. It may not sound like a lot, but half a shot off your score per round of golf adds up to two full shots lower over the course of a tournament—that’s a really big deal.
How about for your career?
I approach every tournament as if it’s a major championship. Everybody sets their goals on winning a major, like The Masters. But the more I treat every tournament the same, the more I’m likely to win—whether it’s a regular tournament or a major. I play to win every tournament I enter.
Do you have a favorite tournament or course?
Hilton Head, where I won the RBC Heritage, is one of my favorite destinations, and Harbour Town at Sea Pines is probably my favorite course. The Heritage tournament always has a great atmosphere with great fans.
Besides developing your game at Tech, what’s the most important thing you learned while you were a student that helps you succeed as a pro golfer today?I’d say time management. There’s so much thrown at you at GT, especially being an athlete, that you have to become very good at balancing all your responsibilities. That’s a critical part of being a professional golfer because you have so many demands on your time, including media interviews, charity events and the tournaments themselves.
Have you been following the success of the Tech men’s golf program this year?
I’m very proud of the team. I’m particularly happy that Coach Bruce Heppler has continued a tradition of excellence. He’s racked up so many ACC titles and top 5 NCAA teams. That’s really hard to do year after year.
You’ve been very supportive of Tech with your time and money—why?
What I got out of Tech was so valuable; it was such a great experience. My education and experiences there helped develop me into the person I am on and off the course. I knew that when I got out, I hoped I’d be able to give back. I know there were alumni ahead of me who gave back that helped pave the path for me and my classmates, and I’m happy to do the same. My wife, Sybi [Mgt 99], is also an alum and we’re a very strong Tech family. We love the school.
Final question: Sybi was an excellent tennis player at Tech. But who is better—you at tennis, or your wife at golf?
(Laughing) I’m a pretty good tennis player—better than she is a golfer. Tennis is a fun thing for us to share together, and it’s a nice break from golf. It’s also something we’re able to share with our boys.
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