Matt Kuchar claimed an emotional win at the PNC Championship alongside his son Cameron, ten months after his father’s passing.
Winning a tournament with a family member is always special, but for Matt Kuchar, this year’s PNC Championship on the Champions Tour carried even deeper meaning. In early 2025, Kuchar lost his father, Peter Kuchar, who had been a pivotal figure in his golf career and a 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.
PNC Championship Ends in Tears and Triumph
High schooler Cameron Kuchar, benefiting from forward tees, launched a drive that set up his father for a precise 7-iron approach to just 18 inches. Matt then handed Cameron the honor of sinking the final putt, sealing 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 you believe in—there’s something magical out there,” Kuchar 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… it makes me believe there’s something more. I just miss you, Pops.”
Legacy of a Father, Caddie, and Mentor
Peter Kuchar had been a constant presence in Matt’s life and career. He first caddied for Matt during his 1997 U.S. Amateur win and continued the role at the Masters and U.S. Open the following year. Though he stepped back as Matt turned pro, Peter remained a steadfast supporter and advisor. The two even played together in previous editions of the PNC Championship, before Peter passed the torch to his 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, my mother’s best friend, and the best father I could’ve ever asked for,” Matt said at the time. “He loved pickleball and the outdoors, and had a larger-than-life personality.”
Matt and Cameron played like champions, carding only two pars on the final day and offsetting them with two eagles to shoot a 54 and finish at 33 under par—a new tournament record. “This is special, really special,” Matt said, visibly moved by 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