Kuchar wins but Fowler and Laird shine too
MATT Kuchar may have taken the spoils at the weekend’s Players Championship, but he was not the only golfer to catch the eye at Sawgrass.
Scotland’s own Martin Laird put in a great performance to finish tied for second, despite starting the final round six shots behind.
He might have pushed Kuchar even harder if he could have found another birdie at the last, rather than a bogey, but nevertheless it was performance to be proud of.
The Glaswegian, at 29, is just approaching his prime and has put himself right in the frame for a place in Jose Maria Olazabal’s Ryder Cup team later this year.
Kuchar himself played exceptionally well to win by two shots and hardly put a foot wrong throughout the four days.
The American is hugely consistent and seems to be around the top of the leaderboard virtually every week, without always winning tournaments.
This is a big breakthrough for the new world No5, however, and I would expect to see his career go from strength to strength.
Another man whose star is on the rise is Kuchar’s compatriot Rickie Fowler, who was among three players to share second place with Laird at Sawgrass.
I’m a huge fan of Fowler; he’s exciting, a breath of fresh air and almost in the Bubba Watson league when it comes to flair.
Last week he won his first PGA Tour title by beating world No1 Rory McIlroy in a play-off at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, and this week he was up there again.
When he was selected for the last Ryder Cup he was something of a gamble but he fared well then and I’m delighted to see he is now living up the expectation.
Sam Torrance OBE is a multiple Ryder Cup-winning golfer, captain and media commentator. Follow him on Twitter @torrancesam