Matt Kuchar started his final round at Waialae Country Club with three bogeys over his first five holes – three times as many as he’d had in his previous 54 holes – and found himself down a shot to Andrew Putnam.
The 40-year old Georgia Tech product, though, settled down with pars on Nos. 6-8, and then closed cleanly with six birdies over his final 10 holes, highlighted by three gains in his final four, en route to a 66 to reach 22-under par and a four-shot win at the 2019 Sony Open.
It was Kuchar’s second PGA Tour victory of the 2018-19 season, and ninth of his career.
The win earned Kuchar $1,152,000 and 500 FedExCup points which moved him into 2nd-place in the PGA Tour’s points standings. He also received 50 OWGR points, and will jump 10 spots, from 32 to 22, in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Runner-up Putnam, meanwhile, was awarded a check for $691,200 and 300 FedEx points, along with 33 OWGR points, which will vault him to a career-best 45th in the world rankings.
FINAL SCORES, MONEY & POINTS: SONY OPEN
Waialae Country Club | Honolulu, Hawaii | January 13, 2019
