Nothing tougher than the week after a major, especially The Masters.
We go from the ultimate thrill ride to the kiddie cars.
But wait, maybe there’s hope.
Hilton Head Island is a marvelous place for a bounce-back. An idyllic setting the locals call “Fantasy Island.”
It’s where golf meets the shore. It abounds in Southern Charm, great food and expensive real estate. What’s not to like?
The Harbour Town Golf Links is where Jack Nicklaus got his feet wet in the world of golf course design. Pete Dye mentored him and they produced a gem.
This course opens up the field. Long hitters don’t have a great advantage, as they normally do week-in and week-out on the PGA Tour.
This week is perfect for “The Koooch” — as in Matt Kuchar.
Kooch did what he does best last week at The Masters — he finished tied for fourth. Yes, Kuchar will third and fourth place you to death. That’s what he does. Plays great, just not great enough to win a lot. In 17 seasons, Kuchar has seven tour wins, his last win came at Hilton Head in 2014. Kooch is overdue.
The big question this week: Can Matt Kuchar save the 2017 RBC Heritage?
Yes, this is a fine tournament that deserves better but it falls on that awful spot on the tour calendar — week after the Masters. No big names, they all need a break but they’ve got The Kooch.
The last time we saw Kuchar he was holing out a seven-iron shot at the 16th on Sunday for an ace that would propel him to the day’s low round — 67. Kuchar promptly signed that golf ball and gave it to a kid wearing an orange Rickie Fowler Puma golf shirt. Kooch didn’t care, it’s what Kooch does, he makes everyone smile.
Kuchar has the perfect game for Harbour Town. They don’t shoot lights out at this place. He won in ’14 shooting 11-under.
There are some guys in the field who have been playing pretty well coming in here — Jason Dufner, Russell Henley, our guy Will McGirt, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Tyrrell Hatton from England, Pat Perez, Brandt Snedeker and so on.
Good place for Jim Furyk and Bryson DeChambeau as well.
But the big names are elsewhere doing something else.
This week, it’s up to The Kooch.
Save us, Kooch!
