Simply the best. That’s the only description for the other-worldly nine-under-par 62 American Matt Kuchar shot over the notoriously difficult Serapong course at Sentosa Golf club in the third round of the SMBC Singapore Open on Saturday.
Kuchar was dialled-in with long, accurate driving, pinpoint approach shots and heat-seeking putts.
Indeed, employing his trademark arm-lock putting style that he has used effectively since 2011, Kuchar needed just 25 putts in his eye-popping round that thrilled the large galleries who sent howls of approval around Sentosa.
The 41 year old set up his birdie opportunities, the majority of them from close range, by hitting 11 out of 14 fairways with an average driving distance of 310 yards and finding 15 out of the 18 greens in regulation.
Kuchar birdied the first, second, fourth, seventh, 10th, 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th in a round that will live long in the memory for those lucky enough have witnessed it live.
To put his score into perspective, his 62 was the lowest round since the Singapore Open moved to its permanent home at Sentosa Golf Club in 2005 with just three players having shot 63.
Angel Cabrera of Argentina, the 2007 champion, South Africa’s George Coetzee and Song Younghan of Korea, who won in 2016, are the only players to shoot eight under over the par-71 Serapong course which is a monster at 7397 yards from the championship tees.
Australia’s Travis Smyth summed up the thoughts of the players by describing Kuchar’s 62 as “insane”.
“Only one word needed to explain Matt Kuchar’s round today in the @SingOpenGolf INSANE. Serapong is not easy. That’s seriously good golf,” Smyth, who is in 15th spot on a total of 5 under par, a full 12 shots behind Kuchar, wrote on Twitter.
World number 24 Matt Kuchar, a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour who has amassed more that US$50 million in prize money alone during his career, was more matter-of-fact about his sparkling round.
“It was a great day. Really had a good time – got off to a great start by birdieing the first two holes and continued playing some good steady golf,” he said.
For steady, read spectacular.
