A week to celebrate

Kuchars have double fun during Open's final round

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Sunday June 21, 1998 09:09 PM

You the man: Matt Kuchar (left)celebrated his 20th birthday with his father at his side and a tie for 14th place in the Open (AP)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Fans sang "Happy Birthday" to Matt Kuchar. They yelled "happy Father's Day" to his dad, who also happens to be Matt's caddie and chief cheerleader.

It was hard to tell which Kuchar enjoyed a remarkable week at the U.S. Open more -- the amateur golfer who became the crowd's darling, or the beaming father who made no effort to restrain his pride or excitement.

"Every hole, it seemed like I had the birthday song sung to me. It was the most memorable birthday I've had," said Kuchar, who turned 20 Sunday while shooting a 4-over 74 in the final round to tie for 14th with a 9-over total.

"And he must have had a thousand chants of `happy Father's Day.' It was a lot of fun for the two of us."

Kuchar charmed the crowd with his effervescent smile and wowed them with his shotmaking. The Georgia Tech star was among the leaders until late in the third round.

His father, Peter Kuchar, thrust his arms in the air to celebrate Matt's good shots and ran to his son for enthusiastic high-fives. And there was no containing his paternal pride on Sunday.

"It's hard to believe 20 years ago this kid was born," Peter said. "If the next 20 years are anything like this, it's going to be quite a ride."

Both Kuchars say they're unsure whether Matt will turn pro or return to school. Matt, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion who burst onto the pro scene with an even-par finish at the Masters, says he enjoys campus life and has steadfastly refused to speak with any agents. His dad is handling all those dealings for now.

"I'm just setting the table for him," Peter said. "He can choose what he wants to pick up from that table."

The reactions of father and son were telling on the final hole of Kuchar's first U.S. Open. Matt clapped his hands in appreciation of fans surrounding the hole. Peter waved his arms in the air when his son made a par putt.

"I'm living every father's dream," Peter Kuchar said. "It doesn't get any better than this."

Matt said he has no problem with his dad's enthusiasm on the course and said he can just imagine what other dads were thinking on Father's Day.

"The fathers think, `If that was my son, I'd be doing exactly the same thing,'" he said.

Related information
Stories
U.S. Open Final Par Scores 'Great' Azinger fires tournament-best 65 U.S. Open Notebook: Montgomerie can't escape heckling fans at Olympic Sports Illustrated Presents Eight U.S. Open Covers Worth Seeing Sports Illustrated's Golf Plus: A Father and Son Game by Mike and Jim Furyk
Multimedia
Click here for the latest audio and video
Message Boards
Should Matt Kuchar turn pro? After such promising performances in the Masters and the Open, should Matt Kuchar pull a Tiger and turn pro? Chip in an opinion on the CNN/SI Golf Message Board! Click here for more
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI on cable 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.