Kuchar mainly fails questions, golf weeks are very limited
Claire Rogers
Matt Kuchar and Jason Day at the Grant Thornton Invitational.
Getty Images
Hello, friends, and welcome to the Gulf Coast edition of the Rogers Report! I’m currently at the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, the second stop on my personal “Florida Swing.” I started my week at the Top 100 Golf Instructors Conference at Cabot Citrus Farms, where I met (and sought advice from) the world’s best golf instructors. Then I made the three and a half hour drive to Naples to attend the second (and first ever) Grant Thornton Invitational.
The big season may be over folks, but please allow me to explain why the next two weeks are some of the best in golf. But before we get to that, some personal news: The TGL broadcast team was announced Thursday morning, and I’ll be serving as the league’s digital host! I really enjoyed it, and of course, you’ll get the full debrief right here in Rogers’ report coming in January.
Grant Thornton Invitational-PNC tournament: the most underrated weeks in golf?
I know, I know, “it’s the off season.” The CME Tour Championship and the Tour Championship are behind us. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore golf. This week, LPGA and PGA Tour pros are joining forces at Grant Thornton, which means we’ll find out a ton for good content, like when the Disney Channel had those crossover episodes when we were kids. As much as I love watching PGA Tour events and LPGA Tour events alone, there is something special about players from each other coming together for a week. There’s definitely a competitive spirit in Tiburon, but a big part of it comes down to communication and fun.
Professional beauty will be revealed in ways we don’t usually use over the next few weeks. Group events often reflect this, and Grant Thornton is no exception. Same thing with the PNC Championship. Professionals may be on the job, but in a “bring-your-child-to-work” kind of way. It’s more about shared knowledge than anything else. So be sure to pay attention to social media over the next 10 days or so, because I have a feeling we’re going to get some fun, healthy and exciting content from both Grant Thornton and PNC. (Remember, the “big dog” Tiger meme came from PNC.)
This last note only applies to those attending the Grant Thornton and/or PNC tournaments, but I’ve learned that there are few things I enjoy more than being on the Ritz-Carlton golf course, especially around the holidays. There are endless places to explore, and you can’t beat the food or the clubhouse.
Fun questions by Kuch and Kang
Remember when I said we were going to get some great crossover content this week at Grant Thornton? Megan Khang and Matt Kuchar kicked things off with a back-and-forth when the 27-year-old Khang asked her 46-year-old co-star about Gen-Z slang. Do yourself a favor and watch this great video.
Kuchar was delivered; he’s the big dad in this video, happily putting his own spin on every phrase despite being incredibly wrong. I’m actually impressed that while Kuchar went zero-for-six here, he was able to come up with an answer for each term. Kuch, it might be time to ask your sons for some Gen-Z slang lessons. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to help.
Great press conference
My favorite part of Thursday at the Grant Thornton Invitational was Lydia Ko and Jason Day’s press conference. It’s clear that the defending champions are eager to make a comeback, but it’s even more clear how much Day and Ko respect and trust each other.
A few excerpts from the transcript:
Date: I went I’ve heard a lot – actually, a lot of stories about how he’s one of the best people in the LPGA and obviously I think a lot of people know that by now. Pure class on and off the golf course.
In: I remember Jessica Korda was like, oh, you’re playing with Jason, right? He was like, you are playing with the most beautiful person in the world, you are going to play be the best team ever.
In: When I played the Tour Championship a few weeks ago, I was like, man, it would be great to have a partner like Jason, it would make my life so much easier.
Date: I am a huge fan of Lydia and her game. Moreover as a person too, he is very beautiful.
In: I’ve actually told a lot of people this, out of all the players I’ve played with, Jason’s game, whether it was hitting the ball, driver, irons, wedges and overall putting was the best player I’ve ever seen.
Folks, find a golf partner that will get you up to speed the way Jason Day and Lydia Ko set you up. Even if you don’t have half the talent they have.
Claire Rogers
Golf.com Editor
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