ORLANDO – The Kuchar family owns a photo of Cameron Kuchar on the back of an indoor driving range in Las Vegas, wearing diapers. He appears to be teaching his father Matt some lessons. Cameron’s love for golf grew as he grew. The 16-year old now dreams of playing on the PGA Tour one day and winning the Masters.
Justin Thomas, Justin Leonard and Mike Thomas, father-son duos, trained with Team Kuchar at The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida to prepare for the PNC Championship.
On a wet day, the Kuchars made it look effortless at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. They shot a scramble score of 15-under-57, just one shot shy of the tournament record. They are three shots ahead of four other teams with 12 under.
The Kuchars completed the first 12 holes with 11 under.
Matt, a nine time winner on the PGA Tour, recalled his 16-year-old self. “It is leaps and bounds better than where I was as a golfer. He feels like he will play good golf every day. And he has a network of great friends with whom he practices, plays and competes in tournaments. He often sees Charlie Woods, and a few other guys in Jupiter.”
Photos: The 2023 PNC Championship
Peter, Matt’s dad, concurs, pointing out that Matt’s games really took off at age 15 and Cameron is so far ahead. It’s mostly because of Matt.
Peter said, “I used to play tennis.” Matt just picked it up on his own. “He didn’t get anything from me.”
Matt’s son Carson is a nationally-ranked junior golfer and was the main reason for the family to move down to South Florida. The move has also helped Cameron who says that it’s a two-minute ride to the driving range from their home and that there is always a game.
Cameron, Charlie Woods, and Luke Leonard play most of their tournament golf in South Florida on the PGA Junior Medalist Tour.
Tiger Woods, United States, embraces his son Charlie Woods during the first round at the PNC Championship held at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando on December 16, 2023. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images).
Team Woods started the PNC off with a 64.
Charlie said, “I didn’t miss any fairways today, and I still managed to score 8 under.” “We just stink at putting.”
Tiger added: “That’s the whole story.”
Bernhard Langer has won the PNC four times, twice with Jason, his youngest son (2014 and 2019), and once with Stefan, his oldest son (2005 and 2006. Jason, 26, was a Penn collegiate football player who is now a finance professional in New York City. This week, he’s playing his sixth game at the PNC alongside dad. They are currently tied for second place with the Singhs Goosens Duvals.
Langer said, “I was impressed by Jason’s performance for someone who hasn’t played much golf in a long time.” “Hitted a lot quality shots.”
