Final Round Recap

Matt Kuchar and 18-year-old son Cameron won the PNC Championship by a record seven strokes on their fourth attempt together, and set a new tournament record of 33-under-par. The nine-time PGA Tour winner was especially emotional following the passing of his father, Peter, earlier this year, who Kuchar played with in his first PNC Championship appearance in 2018.

On how much this victory together means…

MATT KUCHAR: This is something we’ve had our sights on for many years, since Cameron got started, I played my first year with Dad, he has some great memories. The classic memories of Dad, and Cameron was caddying and we were just shy of the green in two, close to the water’s edge, and his chipping was never his strong suit and he completely whiffed the chip. I don’t think Cameron could see all the way down the hill. Dad is smiling from above.

Cameron also knew he had a runway in this event. Cameron and Carson have been great partners. Cam and I have had each chances each year Cam had played, and come close. Some of those were frustrating not to play better on Sunday but man, this Sunday, I don’t know that it could have gone any better.

On whether they will be wearing the belts over the holiday with the family…

CAMERON KUCHAR: For sure.

MATT KUCHAR: I have got a terrible coat from The Heritage tournament, from the Hilton Head tournament, that comes out over Christmas. It’s the perfect Christmas color.

So it comes out once a year over Christmas. I look forward to bringing it out. And I certainly love to matching it with this. This is something I’ll never forget. I think we all have so much to be grateful for. To be part of this event, just to be Included in this event, we’re certainly grateful for, to do this — I don’t know if you believe in karma, if you believe in fate, whatever you believe in, there’s something magical that does exist. I’m a believer in God that Dad is up above looking down, and that — what happened on 18, I could hardly stand up and hit a shot. For me to hit it to a foot, makes me think there’s something more out there (tearing up). Just miss Pops.

On what his pops would say about the win…

MATT KUCHAR: Certainly be so proud. I think back, and I think people have told me that as time goes on, you stop thinking of things you miss and thinking about things you’re grateful for and the good times you had. I certainly think back to some big fist pumps we and I out inside Irish Opens together and outside the ropes together. There would have been certainly some big fist pumps and certainly a lot of pride.

On how good their round of golf was today…

CAMERON KUCHAR: That was amazing. I wasn’t keeping as much track today as I was yesterday but I probably made five or six solo birdies. Every now and then, I would let him know, all right, I made that one myself. But he also made a few solos and he’d come right back and he’d go, “That was all me right there.”

It was just fun just going back-and-forth like that.

MATT KUCHAR: His putting was incredible. If I can give a shoutout to Bettinardi. We were up in Chicago over Thanksgiving. Went into the Bettinardi factory. The guys took us back to the hive which is cool for kids into one-off putters and they let us pick out putters. Cam picked out — makes me think out to “The Natural,” little bat boy and goes and picks out a winner. And Cameron picked out a winner out of this group.

I’ve never seen him putt so good in my life. And if I can sidebar; Bettinardis are having some family issues, if there’s anybody that can send some prayers their way, could use some.

But the putter he picked out is just amazing and he made it work today. Again for me to putt only three times in a round of golf is pretty crazy.

On playing 36 holes and finishing 33-under…

CAMERON KUCHAR: Missed three. (Laughs)

MATT KUCHAR: It is absurd. It’s pretty magical, and again, you go back to those things, if you believe in karma or fate or something greater from above, there’s got to be something else going on.

I know that I feel confident in my game, certainly his game. I keep seeing him improve and improve and it’s so fun for me to see him continue to get better, and for him to put on a show when it really matters when cameras are out. I don’t think he’s been on a stage. He’s played in some big junior events but certainly when you get on a national scene like this, it’s unique and he rose to the occasion in a big way.

On their playing partners…

MATT KUCHAR: The Dalys were so nice to play with. Any time we’ve been paired with them, they are always sweethearts of people. We always have a great time. They couldn’t be more encouraging.

I know always seems like you’re going to play with the Dalys and there’s going to be some sideshow stuff going on. They certainly they bring out a lot of fans. A lot of people come, they just love the Dalys but they could not be sweeter people. They are awfully nice to play with.

Where this weekend of golf will rank in terms of his career…

MATT KUCHAR: Very special. These are the most unique trophies. We’re certainly happy to display them proudly.

Most of my trophies come with a little photo of the family alongside the trophy ceremony, and you look back and it’s fun for me to see the kids through the ages from being tiny tots to where I could told both of them to where there’s no chance I could hold either one of them.

And now to have this shot with the family, it’s clearly missing — missing one (fighting back tears) but it’s special, very special.

On where the trophies will be displayed…

MATT KUCHAR: Got a neat area in the living room that kind of has some of my collection but it’s more of kids trophies, and it’s living that’s very much beside where the TV goes where we spend a lot of our time.

The kids have started putting in lots of their trophies, which is good fun. But these will be prominently displayed in that area, that’s for sure.

Team Love finished in tied second place alongside Team Daly, after a final round 58.

On enjoying how competitive the PNC Championship is…

DAVIS LOVE III: I never thought I would say this about him but we both have to hit it farther, I guess to compete with those guys. They are college kids that are hitting it a long way and obviously Matt’s still very competitive.

So it’s tough, and I said it yesterday, it’s a fun family event but you’d better birdie every hole or you’re going to lose. It’s very competitive and a lot of fun, and you don’t want it to be boring. You want it to be lots of birdies like this. It was an exciting day.

On how special it is to be back playing with his dad…

DRU LOVE: It’s always a treat to come play this tournament and be inside the ropes and compete with him and watch how real pros do it, him and Strick, the way they approach the game, it’s great to see from up close and it’s great for me to be back out playing competitive golf.

Like my dad says, everything changes a little bit when you put a pencil in your pocket. A few tee shots I didn’t even come close on, a little bit of nerves, a little quick and a little rusty. And next year we’ll come back with a little more driver, practice and if we get invited back, we’ll be ready to go.

Key Things to Know

• 18-hole leader Team Kuchar (Matt/Cameron) eclipsed the PNC Championship records for 36-hole score (111), 18-hole score (54) and margin of victory (7) en route to winning the event for the first time.
• Team Kuchar and Team Daly (John/John II) became the fourth and fifth teams in the 28-year history of the PNC Championship to post two sub-60 scores.
  • Previous instances: Team Singh/2022 (59-59); Team Langer/2024 (59-57); Team Woods/2024 (59-57)