Matt Kuchar’s brief stint in the field at the FedEx St. Jude Classic has ended.
Kuchar was a late addition to the tournament roster in Memphis, committing Friday afternoon. At No. 5 in the OWGR, he was slated to be the highest-ranked player in this week’s field, but according to a tweet from PGA Tour Media, Kuchar withdrew Tuesday. In an e-mail to GolfChannel.com, Kuchar’s agent Mark Steinberg confirmed that the decision to withdraw was not tied to illness or injury, but simply an effort to ensure Kuchar is well-rested heading into the U.S. Open.
Kuchar has been a mainstay in PGA Tour fields over the last month, and playing this week in Memphis would have made next week’s start at Pinehurst his sixth tournament in as many weeks. He has nine top-10 finishes in 15 starts this season, including a win at the RBC Heritage, and last week battled back for a T-15 finish at the Memorial Tournament despite a 74 in the opening round.
Gary Christian takes Kuchar’s spot in the field, and Brooks Koepka and Cameron Beckman also received spots at TPC Southwind after Justin Hicks and Seung-Yul Noh both opted to withdraw Tuesday.
At No. 11 in the OWGR, Phil Mickelson is now the highest-ranked player in the field in Memphis.