'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Matt Kuchar made waves when he opted not to continue playing on Sunday evening. He was the only player who didn't finish his round and had to come back Monday morning to finish just the 18th hole. He ended up receiving line-of-sight relief, which helped him to make par on the final hole.
Ultimately, that only kept him in a tie for 12th, which did not impact his standing for the FedEx St. Jude Playoffs this week. He needed a win to get in, and he couldn't. He was the leader after two, but the 36 holes on Sunday proved too difficult.
The fact that Kuchar was the sole player who did not finish on Sunday and that he got relief in his score for the 18th irked some fans, who criticized him heavily on social media. One fan said:
"Should have aerated the green first thing this morning," another said.
"So the line of sight relief allowed Kuchar to move his ball from the left, rough to the fairway?" one fan asked.
"So anyone who hit in rough all week behind trees got line of sight relief? Why was the scorecard even still up in the first place?" another chimed in.
"Apparently that scoreboard hidden by the trees is what got him the free drop 15 yards left and in the fairway. The drop almost certainly saved him a stroke. To be clear, this was legal, but just another atrocious example of TIO relief. That scoreboard never mattered," another said plainly.
There's no doubting the legality of Kuchar's request and the fact that it was granted. However, many fans have taken issue with the fact that this is part of the game at all and that it allowed Kuchar to stay at par and tied for 12th, thus taking some money away from other players.
Matt Kuchar apologizes for Monday finish
Matt Kuchar began Monday morning by asking for relief and being granted it. Rather than playing from where he was, he was able to take a drop to a simpler location and he ended up saving par 13 hours or so after he began the hole.
Even though he was the sole player who returned that day, media and rules officials had to come out to see the conclusion of the tournament. Golf Digest reported that Matt Kuchar did at least apologize for making everyone come out for what turned out to be a pretty short affair even if it did take time with the relief query.
