Matt Kuchar is probably feeling pretty good about his last-minute decision to play the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, this week, where he’s showing his superior form — despite being without regular caddie, John Wood.
The birdies have continued to be plentiful for everyone in the field at El Camaleon. Here’s what you missed from Round 3 of the Mayakoba Golf Classic.
Matt Kuchar is in position to win his first Tour event since 2014
It’s been a long time since Matt Kuchar has lifted a PGA Tour trophy in an individual event (his last win was the 2014 RBC Heritage, but he won the Franklin Templeton Shootout with partner Harris English in 2016) — but it looks like Sunday could be the day for the Tour veteran to add his eighth title to his Tour resume.
Three scorching rounds in Mexico (64-64-65) have placed him firmly atop the leaderboard at 20 under par, four shots clear of his closest competitor, Whee Kim.
First ? of the day for Matt Kuchar.
He’s solo leader at -15 @MayakobaGolf.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/ukE4Epb2Uy
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 10, 2018
You have to go all the way back to the 2017 Open Championship duel with Jordan Spieth to find Kuchar’s most recent runner-up finish on Tour. Bagging his eighth victory will get him to T130 on the all-time Tour wins list.
The Rookie of the Year is heating up
The round of the day belonged to 2018 Rookie of the Year, Aaron Wise, whose perfect scorecard included eight birdies and no bogeys.
No sophomore slump for @aaronwise_. ?
Last season’s Rookie of the Year is currently T6 @MayakobaGolf.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/wgsCJ5PK7u
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 10, 2018
With another round like that on Sunday, Wise could be a potential spoiler for Kuchar’s victory lap. He’s currently T5 at 14 under par — six shots back of Kuchar’s lead.
Wise won his first, and to date, only, career Tour event at the AT&T Byron Nelson earlier this year.
Cameron Champ had a rough finishing hole
After firing a crazy-good 62 in Round 2 (eight birdies and an eagle), Champ charged up the leaderboard and seemed ready to wrestle with Kuchar for control of the tournament on Saturday.
After quiet front-nine 36 in Round 3, Champ came to life on the back nine, carding four birdies to get himself back within striking distance of Kuchar. But Champ missed the green in regulation on 18 and then three-putted for a deflating double-bogey.
At 14 under par for the tournament, he’s by no means out of it, but it will likely take another round like Friday’s to get back in contention for the trophy on Sunday.
