A British holiday

Kuchar's first-round 75 doesn't dampen his enthusiasm

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Posted: Thursday July 16, 1998 01:27 PM

After the British Open, Matt Kuchar plans to play in the Palmer Cup, then "go in a cave and disappear" (Craig Jones/Allsport)

SOUTHPORT, England (CNN/SI) -- Matt Kuchar is still enjoying the ride. He’s not sure where or when it’ll end -- he’s not sure about much after the next couple weeks -- but, for now, he’s just playing a little golf and having a heck of a lot of fun.

The reigning U.S. Amateur champion and the feel good story of the U.S. Open, Kuchar finished his first round of the British Open on Thursday at Royal Birkdale with a 75, 10 strokes off the lead.

Considering everything going on around the 20-year-old amateur, 5-over wasn’t all that bad.

“I played pretty good,” Kuchar told CNN/SI. “I struggled some, missed some fairways. But I’m confident that, if I can get the ball in the fairway, I know I can score with anybody.”

Kuchar had never before played a European event until last week’s tournament at Loch Lomond, Scotland. He’s still getting used to the winds, rough and narrow fairways.

“The weather [Thursday] was quite nice -- beautiful compared to the other days I played here,” he said. “But the wind is always blowing out. You have to hit the ball solidly. It’s difficult keeping your balance, which makes it much more challenging. But it’s really enjoyable. You have to be a lot more creative with your shots.”

Kuchar also may be a little match shy. Other than last week’s warmup event at Loch Lomond (where he missed the cut), Kuchar hasn’t played competitively since the U.S. Open.

And, of course, there’s the little matter of his future.

All week long, Kuchar has been fielding questions about whether he’ll turn pro. After his phenomenal success at the Masters (tied for 21st) and at the U.S. Open (tied for 14th), Kuchar has been considering chucking his college career at Georgia Tech for a shot at the PGA Tour.

He is very admittedly torn by the choices. And he wonders aloud whether the decision is affecting his game.

“I hope not. I don’t know whether I’m thinking about it or not [on the course],” he said. “Still, I know at night I think about it.

“I keep trying to find what’s going to be right for me. I’m split down the middle -- whether to turn pro and secure my financial future, or go back to school, give myself a chance to mature and maybe try for the national championship.”

Kuchar plans to stay overseas through the beginning of August to play in the Palmer Cup, a Ryder Cup-type match-play event that features a team of eight American collegians against a similar team made up of players from Great Britain and Ireland. The event will take place at historic St. Andrews in Scotland.

After that, it’s a retreat to a summer camp with his family in New Hampshire.

And then, his decision.

“I want to talk to some more of the players out here to hear what they think, and then go in a cave and disappear, get back to myself, talk to some friends,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll just know. It’ll just come to me.”  

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Complete British Open coverage Kuchar can't escape inquiring minds
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