Matt Kuchar claimed an emotional win at the PNC Championship with son Cameron, ten months after the passing of his father.
Winning alongside a family member is always special, but for Matt Kuchar, this year’s PNC Championship on the Champions Tour carried extra emotional weight. In early 2025, Kuchar lost his father, Peter Kuchar, a pivotal figure in his golf journey and former playing partner at the PNC Championship. Now, ten months later, Matt and his son Cameron captured the title with a tournament-record score of 33 under par.
Champions Tour event ends in joyful tears
High schooler Cameron Kuchar, benefiting from a forward tee position, hit a strong drive before Matt stuck a 7-iron approach to just 18 inches. Matt then let Cameron sink the final putt, capping off a week the Kuchar family will never forget.
The family-focused event concluded with Matt wiping away tears, his voice cracking as he reflected on the absence of his father: “I don’t know if you believe in karma, fate, or whatever it is, but there’s something magical out there,” he said. “I believe in God and that my dad is looking down on me. What happened on 18—I could barely stand to hit the shot. To knock it to a foot makes me believe there’s something more. I just miss you, Pops.”
Father, caddie, mentor, and legacy
Peter Kuchar was a constant in Matt’s life and career. He first caddied for Matt during his 1997 U.S. Amateur win and continued at the 1998 Masters and U.S. Open. Though he stepped back from caddying when Matt turned pro, Peter remained a loyal supporter and advisor. The two even played in the PNC Championship together before Peter passed the torch to grandson Cameron.
Peter Kuchar died suddenly of a heart attack while swimming in February. “He was a wonderful man—an incredible grandfather, a loving husband and best friend to my mom, and the best father I could have ever asked for,” Matt shared at the time. “He loved pickleball and the outdoors, and he had a personality all his own.”
Matt and Cameron played with determination, carding just two pars on the final day and balancing them with two eagles for a round of 54. Their 33-under-par total set a new tournament record. “This is special, very special,” said an emotional Matt Kuchar after the win.
“I know Pops is giving big fist pumps up in the sky.”
Memories from the past and memories being made.
Matt Kuchar shares how special @PNCchampionship has been to his family. https://t.co/93dL2JdAUD pic.twitter.com/hMnHP