Before Sunday in South Africa, the last time Lee Westwood had won on the European Tour was April 20, 2014. Before Sunday in Mexico, Matt Kuchar hadn’t won on the PGA Tour since — you guessed it — April 20, 2014. On Sunday each triumphed again, parallel wins linked by time and coincidence and marked with uncharacteristic emotion.
Westwood’s win came first in the day. The 45-year-old Englishmen, whose form has slipped in recent years, made an early eagle on Sunday to chip into Sergio Garcia’s three-shot lead. Five back-nine birdies, including four in his last six holes, cemented his victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. After the win he embraced his girlfriend and caddie, Helen Storey.
He then gave an emotional interview, tearing up as he spoke. “You are never sure whether you are going to be able to do it again,” Westwood said. Then he grinned, realizing he’d made the interviewer tear up, too. “I’ve made you cry now,” Westwood told him.
“You’re never sure whether you are going to be able to do it again…” What a moment for Lee Westwood.
pic.twitter.com/VdSc1f5nlj— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) November 11, 2018
Across the globe, Kuchar claimed the Mayakoba Golf Classic title hours later. He was joined on the 18th green by his two sons, Cameron and Carson, as well as his wife Sybi. He spoke afterwards about just what the moment meant to him.
“To have my kids there, I nearly teared up when I sank that final three-footer and then saw the family come running out. It’s a special thing for me. My kids are kind of an age where they understand what I do. They hadn’t seen me win a tournament in a long time, and to be able to do that in front of them is great. To have the support they’ve given me, my wife in particular,” he said.
“2018 hadn’t been my best year. To get knocked out of the Playoffs early, to not be selected to the Ryder Cup, there were a handful of disappointments along the way. It was shaping up to be a pretty rough year for me, but always had great support from my wife, from the kids, and to have them here is awfully special.”
Sharing the love. 🏆
Dad's a winner again.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/0azzS1p5Ux
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 11, 2018
Congratulations, Matt Kuchar! 🏆
He's claimed the @MayakobaGolf Classic. 🇲🇽
This is his eighth victory on the PGA TOUR.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/7KYF6LXJYV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 11, 2018
Kuchar jumped from World No. 40 up to 29 with the win. Westwood’s change was even more dramatic, charging from No. 119 in the world to No. 64. The win puts him in shouting distance of the all-important world top 50, which would get him into the Masters and World Golf Championships. But on Sunday, winning was more than enough for each of the game’s longtime friendly faces.
