Connect with us

News

Sergio Garcia’s missed tap in putt leads to controversy in his match against Matt Kuchar at WGC-Match Play

Published

on

Emotions were running high during Saturday’s last sixteen match between Sergio Garcia and Matt Kuchar at the WGC-Match Play, with an incident on the seventh causing great contention.

Trailing by one, Garcia faced a seven-foot putt for par on the seventh green to win the hole, but when he saw his putt fail to drop and settle an inch or two away from the cup, the Spaniard hastily tapped the ball with the back of his putter and missed his bogey attempt. Despite Kuchar saying after that he would have conceded the putt had Garcia given him the opportunity, Garcia lost the hole.

The situation didn’t seem to sit well with Garcia, who could be seen talking animatedly to Kuchar on the 10th hole, and his reaction to a missed putt on the eight green projected his frustration to all.

Following the match, both Garcia and Kuchar shared their side of the story, and when asked about the incident on the seventh hole, the Spaniard admitted that he had “screwed it up”.

“It’s quite simple. I screwed it up, it’s as simple as that. Obviously I missed my putt and I kind of tapped it with the back of my putter before he said anything. Yeah, it’s a loss of hole. I understand that. The only issue that it was, was that Kooch was like, I didn’t see it good, but I don’t want to take the hole. I don’t want to do this like this. So I was like okay, it’s fine, what do you want to do? Because there are many options that you can do if you don’t want to take the hole, even though I’ve already lost that hole. But obviously he didn’t like any of the options that were there.”

Asked after the match, Kuchar shed further light on the incident and the options which Garcia alluded to, with the idea of conceding a hole to even things up following Garcia’s mistake not sitting well with the American.

“I kind of made a mess of things with the hole. Ended up making about a 15-footer for a bogey. Sergio had about a 10-footer, I think, for par. I made my putt, walked to the back of the green. Sergio I saw missed it. And as I looked up again, I saw he had missed the next one.

And I saw him off the green, I said, “Sergio, I didn’t say anything, I’m not sure how this works out.” I didn’t want that to be an issue. So I asked Robby Ware, I said, “Listen, I don’t know how to handle this, but I didn’t concede the putt, Sergio missed the putt.” Sergio said, totally his mistake. He knew he made a mistake. I said, I didn’t want that to be how a hole was won or lost. And he said, “Well, you can concede a hole.” I’m not sure I’m ready to concede a hole.”

Surprised by Kuchar’s admission that Garcia had suggested that he concede a hole to make things fair, the media then asked Kuchar to elaborate on what happened from that point. The 40-year-old then stated how he didn’t like Garcia’s idea and when asked what about the idea he didn’t like, Kuchar had this to say

“What didn’t I like about it? It’s hard to say other than I kind of just stuck to what the rules official said the rule was.”

Kuchar defeated Garcia 2 up and plays Lucas Bjerregaard in the semi-finals today, with their match teeing off at 9.20 AM ET.

What’s your take, WRXers?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at gianni@golfwrx.com.

41 Comments

41 Comments

  1. Layton

    Apr 1, 2019 at 1:44 pm

    I don’t believe kuchar did anything wrong he did not concede the putt so sergio should have taken it more seriously. Yes I do believe he should have conceded a 2 inch putt sergio should have made a 2 inch putt i am a 25 handicap and have never missed that short of a putt but we all make mistakes.

  2. Kuchsux

    Mar 31, 2019 at 10:52 pm

    No surprise that Kuckar didn’t give something to a Latino. He’s a big “build the wall” guy.

    • DB

      Apr 1, 2019 at 9:21 am

      LOL. Garcia is Spanish. You know, descendant of the conquistadors who conquered Latin America.

  3. ST

    Mar 31, 2019 at 10:36 pm

    If the roles were reversed Garcia or most anyone else would be destroyed in the media.
    Dig deeper, there is a lot out there showing what phony Kuch is.

  4. Karls Barkley

    Mar 31, 2019 at 8:36 pm

    Glad Ku’cheapo didn’t get the dub ya!!

  5. San

    Mar 31, 2019 at 7:50 pm

    This is cut and dry?! Sergio messed up! It’s not about integrity or sportsmanship on Kuchs part. If an opponent makes a totally stupid mistake, heck no that shouldn’t mean one should concede a hole to even it up!your supposed to know better than to make stupid mistakes at that level!

    • Bruce Reid

      Apr 1, 2019 at 9:49 am

      Totally agree. After reading the comments I understand we are a minority but rules are rules. Anyone other than Sergio would man up and go on

  6. Swirley

    Mar 31, 2019 at 6:54 pm

    I can’t wait for tomorrow where we get to see the Top 6 Instagram #golfwrx posts. Seriously.

  7. Gmon

    Mar 31, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    Sergio has played plenty of Matchplay, he knows better!

    Its ALL on him, as usual. Grow up, Sergio!

  8. Benny

    Mar 31, 2019 at 5:48 pm

    Guys what went down happens ALL THE TIME in match play. It was a foot gimmy and its Kuchar who is the baby here. He was the one who went to the official. He was the one who said he didn’t concede. Kuchar was the one who asked what the rule is on this and ultimately he caused the penalty or reversed call.
    I personally have lost any and all consideration with Kuchar. With what he said about to the caddy in respinse. Than the exploitation of that caddy’s livlyhood. The dude is selfish, snobby, uses others as jokes and will stab you in the back while taking the last penny in your pocket.
    This is what Sergio was pissed about. It’s match play and short gimmies are gimmies. If Tiger did that NOTHING would have been said.
    Kuchar sucks and I hope this hurts his persona even more. I would love to punch the dude right in his smug mug.

    • Vince

      Mar 31, 2019 at 6:22 pm

      This is such baloney. There’s no controversy here, Garcia is 100% at fault for losing the hole….and that’s the end of the story. You dislike Kuchar which is your prerogative, but don’t spin your BS.

      • Matf el cheapo

        Mar 31, 2019 at 11:47 pm

        Vince , your wrong. Sergio would have made that putt 1 mil out of 1 mil times, that’s why putt is conceded. Matt cheapo could’ve continued to the next hole without calling in an official, but cheapo wanted to win at all cost.

    • Alex

      Mar 31, 2019 at 6:34 pm

      Totally agree mate. Kuch was trying to use the rule to his advantage. If he felt so bad he could have gone onto the next hole. Purposely called an official over to claim the hole and pretend to keep his nice guy persona. But there’s been too many times where he’s shown his selfishness already. Asked Westwood to putt from half a foot in a matchplay once just to try to have mind games, then the caddie situation and now this, can’t stand fakes who pretends to be a nice guy. Sergio would never have done what Kuch did, he gave Rickie a putt from 20 feet after all.

  9. Petrhenry

    Mar 31, 2019 at 5:12 pm

    Sergio made his mistake but Kuch had a chance to do the right thing and be a bigger man. He didn’t, a few years ago Sergio fave Rickie a good good when he was 4 feet away and Rickie was 20 feet away because he felt he took too long to play. Much less offense but he showed he’d rather lose than win without good sportsmanship. And like someone said in this thread, all over the world if someone misses from an inch like that when you were going to give the putt then u’d say it’s ok that was good. Kuch should have ar least given Sergio the putt on the next hole. Thay would show good sportsmanship without giving Sergio the hole instead of what Kuch showed, gamesmanship.

  10. SV

    Mar 31, 2019 at 5:00 pm

    This happens all the time at golf clubs up and down the country – your opponent misses a tap in you were about to concede – and you ALWAYS give it to them afterwards. You are within your rights to take it, but you do the decent thing and let them have it – Matt should have done the same. Spirit of the game – not letter of the law

    • Brice

      Mar 31, 2019 at 10:19 pm

      Oh yeah? Do they play for millions of dollars, FedEx Cup and OWGR points at “golf clubs up and down the country” or is it not the same at all? What an idiotic argument: “We do things differently at my local muni track during friendly matches! These tour pros should do the same!” Sergio messed up, Kuchar is under no obligation whatsoever to right that wrong. I bet you think every kid deserves a participation trophy too, right? Also I’m pretty certain those that have laid the blueprint for this game would’ve been on Kuch’s side 100%. You think Hogan and Snead would’ve rolled over and given someone a break after making a stupid mistake during competition? Not a chance.

  11. JP

    Mar 31, 2019 at 5:00 pm

    DID ANYONE ELSE NOTICE ON #16 when Sergio took the drop from the drainage grate he had his caddy come over and clean his ball with a towel before taking his free drop. Right in front of the rules official. Nobody said anything – What am I missing?

    • CK

      Mar 31, 2019 at 6:31 pm

      You’re missing the fact that you can clean your ball when taking relief

  12. Brad

    Mar 31, 2019 at 3:25 pm

    I think the fault was with Sergio’s rash behavior, In this case it just went sour. I think Matt Kucher just didn’t have enough time to consider and utter a declaration of concession for the close putt. I have been following Matt Kucher’s career for many years and he has good traits. Honesty and talent iare two of his best traits. I agree you cannot concede something that already took place, i.e. the 2nd putt by Sergio.
    Sergio, you are a great golfer, but Sometimes, sh-t happens. Suck it up and go on. No foul by Kuch on this one!

  13. Tinker Hathead

    Mar 31, 2019 at 3:00 pm

    I would love to have something to fault Kuchar for but in this case he’s totally in the right. Sergio is doubly in the wrong for not waiting for the concession and missing a 4 incher, but also even asking Kuchar to GIVE him a hole for his f-up. Nothing shady about playing by the rules and you NEVER have to concede a putt so play as if it’s stroke play until u hear “pick it up.”

  14. Jose Pinatas

    Mar 31, 2019 at 1:54 pm

    Pay your Caddie Kuchar…..

  15. CrashTestDummy

    Mar 31, 2019 at 1:35 pm

    To me, there is no debate. There are specific rules for match play that should be upheld. The putt wasn’t conceded so he shouldn’t of hit it. Basic rule of match play. Everyone knows it and should follow it.

    It reminds me of when Annika Sorenstam chipped in at the Solheim Cup and Kelly Robbins told her to replay the shot because she played out of turn. Sorenstam said it was unsportmanslike but playing in turn is a big part of the game. Robbins was well within her right to make her replay the shot and I didn’t think it was unsportmanlike at all. If anything, playing out of turn and sinking the chip to put pressure on the other player is borderline unsportmanlike.

  16. Donna Keehn

    Mar 31, 2019 at 1:24 pm

    Hmmm.. Remember the solheim cup where Allison Lee picked up a much longer putt then sergio did , only to have Suzanne petterson retrack that it wasnt a gimme! It ruined suzannes reputation ! But since it happened to an american player we thought it was deplorable! So, Sergio racks a 5 inch putt that 100% was going to be conceded , we Americans go after him! Hypocritical and not the way I want us to be looked at as americans.. double standard Both made the assumption that putts were conceded. Different fan reactions both biased to Americans.

  17. Jamie

    Mar 31, 2019 at 12:56 pm

    Sergio grows up finally and admits an embarrassing mistake without being pressured to admit it. Good for him.

  18. L

    Mar 31, 2019 at 12:44 pm

    I love it. More dirt to throw at Sergio.
    And more dirt for Kuch to swallow.
    They must have done something silly in their past lives for this stuff to follow them everywhere in this new tech world

  19. dat

    Mar 31, 2019 at 12:01 pm

    What a joke group!

  20. russell platt

    Mar 31, 2019 at 12:00 pm

    Sergio really livens the game up, and this is a pro event as others have stated. C’mon Sergio, be a pro!!

  21. Leo

    Mar 31, 2019 at 11:50 am

    I dislike Sergio. But, during the match, live, even after sergio had missed the putt, the official announced “The hole is halved in 4….”. Is this not “official”? Isn’t what happened the official’s call? I honestly don’t know, so asking this as a legitimate question. If the putt can not be conceded retroactively, why can the official’s call of the match be changed retroactively. The answer seems to be that perhaps the official made a mistake in making his call prematurely. At any rate, if Kooch “would have” conceded the putt anyway, why not just let it go and move on? I get that both players have Cup experience and “know better”, and bc of that there is an argument for what Kooch did. In that case however, it seems to just rub salt in the wound to say “I would have given that putt….”.

  22. Drew

    Mar 31, 2019 at 11:19 am

    Obviously this is Sergio’s mistake and his own fault. He should not have asked Kuch to concede a hole to him because of his screw up. Own it, move on and win a hole back yourself. I personally don’t see that Kuch did anything wrong here. He didn’t owe Sergio anything.

  23. Jack

    Mar 31, 2019 at 11:18 am

    Well it has been said many,many,many times on GolfWrx that Kuchar was really bad guy So I guess it “must” be true.

    However Sergio said himself that he really had “really screwed it up”.

    I’m inclined to agree that Sergio totaly screwed up…

  24. Scott Bangerter

    Mar 31, 2019 at 11:15 am

    What controversy?! You violate the rules; you lose. You act like a tool; you’re a loser. No one needs to concede a hole to make you “feel better” for either.

  25. E

    Mar 31, 2019 at 11:10 am

    Sergio is an idiot and he got what he deserved. If someone asked me to concede a hole bc they pulled some crap like that i would have a hard time not laughing in their face.

  26. ActualFacts

    Mar 31, 2019 at 10:53 am

    Once again, Sergio acts like a bratty and entitled adolescent, with no home training, in defeat. I don’t understand why any company would desire him as a brand ambassador when he constantly displays behavior tendencies of a juvenile delinquent on top of his already poor sportsmanship. Grow up already!

  27. DB

    Mar 31, 2019 at 10:30 am

    This is a huge error by a top ranked professional golfer, has he ever made that mistake in a Ryder Cup match? Any time I have ever played match-play, if I am left with any put inside a foot, I will look at the other player and listen to hear if they concede the putt before I hit it. Sergio is a great ball striker but he is the epitome of a head case. His poor choices over the course of his professional career have been sub-par at best.

  28. David Landig

    Mar 31, 2019 at 9:44 am

    Sergio likes to act like he has integrity but he doesn’t. If you’re going to own it, own it. Don’t try to put some of the blame on Kuch. Sergio needs a nook……..

  29. Eli69

    Mar 31, 2019 at 9:37 am

    I’m surprised Sergio did’t start ripping up more greens. Golf is tired of Sergio’s behavior. He is 39 not 12.

  30. Branson

    Mar 31, 2019 at 9:01 am

    Completely Sergio’s fault. Don’t put yourself in the position to have to ask your opponent To concede a hole and then be mad when they don’t. This isn’t a practive round it’s a WGC. Act like you’ve been there before,

  31. JP

    Mar 31, 2019 at 8:55 am

    Maybe Sergio can take to social media and get Kuchar to give him $50,000 ala Tuscan Sam.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

News

Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

on

I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear

OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.

LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break

Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.

Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.

On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.

On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.

On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.

PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home

Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.

On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.

Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?

Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.

Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?

PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates

Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.

Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.

Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.

Continue Reading

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

on

GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.

Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.

Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

 

Continue Reading

News

BK’s Breakdowns: Kurt Kitayama’s Winning WITB, 3M Open

Published

on

Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.

Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX

3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX

7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending