kuchar storms past matsuyama for phoenix open lead
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Kuchar storms past Matsuyama for Phoenix Open lead

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Kuchar storms past Matsuyama for Phoenix Open lead

Matt Kuchar
Los Angeles - Arab Today

Matt Kuchar caught fire on the back nine, firing a seven-under 64 for a one-shot first-round lead over defending champion Hideki Matsuyama and Brendan Steele at the Phoenix Open.

Olympic bronze medalist Kuchar opened birdie-birdie at TPC Scottsdale, but he did his real damage coming home with three birdies and an eagle at the par-five 13th, where he rolled in a 20-footer.

He surged past Japan's Matsuyama, who was in the clubhouse on six-under 65, where he was later joined by Steele.

"I drove the ball really well, which around here you have to do," Kuchar said. "From there I just played good, steady golf. (I) had a lot of chances.

"It was a fun round of golf," he added. "To play in front of so many people to get the energy and the buzz that's out here, it was fun."

Kuchar is making his first start since the unofficial Hero World Challenge in early December, but showed no signs of rust.

Matsuyama, meanwhile, has powered into 2017 with victories at the Japan Open and World Golf Championships HSBC Champions in October, followed by wins at the Taiheiyo Masters in November and the Hero World Challenge in December, opened the calendar year with a runner-up finish to Justin Thomas at the USPGA Tournament of Champions last month.

He cooled off with 27th and 33rd place finishes at the Sony Open and Farmers Insurance Open. While he's not at the level he was in October, he said, he's hoping he can get there.

Certainly Matsuyama looked sharp in picking up where he left off last year with a birdie at his opening hole, the par-four 10th.

"I wish I knew why I play well here, but I did hit the ball very well today -- hit a lot of greens, a lot of good shots," he said.

Steele had twice gained the solo lead at seven-under, but back-to-back bogeys dropped him back to five-under before he gained a share of second with a birdie at the eighth, his penultimate hole. It was his seventh birdie in a round that also included a hole-out for eagle at the 14th.

South Korea's An Byeong-Hun was among a group of five players tied for fourth on five-under 66, along with Americans John Peterson, Robert Garrigus, Scott Brown and Chris Kirk.

Rickie Fowler, beaten by Matsuyama at the fourth playoff hole in Phoenix last year, headed a big group on four-under 67 that also included J.B. Holmes, Steve Stricker, Brooks Koepka, Alex Ceijka, Martin Laird, Webb Simpson and Graham DeLaet. South Korea's Kang Sung was four-under through 17 when darkness halted play with nine players still to finish.

Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson, a fan favorite at the rowdy Phoenix event he has won three times, headlined another big bunch on three-under 68.

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

kuchar storms past matsuyama for phoenix open lead kuchar storms past matsuyama for phoenix open lead

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

kuchar storms past matsuyama for phoenix open lead kuchar storms past matsuyama for phoenix open lead

 



GMT 05:50 2017 Tuesday ,15 August

20 killed in Takhar funeral attack

GMT 04:51 2017 Thursday ,13 April

Huda Kattan among top 10 beauty influencers

GMT 09:44 2018 Saturday ,06 January

Aoun to deliver speech in Rome this afternoon

GMT 09:14 2017 Saturday ,30 December

London stocks end year on record high

GMT 11:47 2017 Monday ,11 December

France's rightwing shifts after Macron victory

GMT 04:49 2013 Monday ,27 May

Feng Shui living room concepts

GMT 19:45 2017 Wednesday ,18 January

The UAE Releases Global State of the Future Report

GMT 23:40 2017 Wednesday ,18 October

OIC condemns terrorist attack in Jeddah

GMT 16:41 2017 Saturday ,18 February

FBMA International Show Jumping Cup 2017 competition

GMT 17:43 2017 Tuesday ,14 February

Spanish activists taken to court over BDS activism

GMT 21:37 2017 Sunday ,02 July

Religious tourism lottery to be held on Monday

GMT 15:27 2017 Saturday ,24 June

US imposes ban on fresh Brazil beef imports

GMT 06:07 2017 Tuesday ,24 October

Air Force set to create new ISR unit with Global Hawk

GMT 03:49 2017 Thursday ,22 June

Dalai Lama says will visit Trump

GMT 03:52 2017 Sunday ,15 January

Drydocks World and GDRFA sign MoU partnership
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday