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A new Matt Kuchar is ready to win the Masters

By Sam Ofman

AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 30: Matt Kuchar of the United States shakes hands with Sergio Garcia of Spain after defeating him 2up during the quarterfinal round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 30, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 30: Matt Kuchar of the United States shakes hands with Sergio Garcia of Spain after defeating him 2up during the quarterfinal round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 30, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /
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Matt Kuchar has long enjoyed a reputation as one the PGA Tour’s nicest guys. Breaking away from that persona could be the catalyst for breaking through in the season’s first major.

Earlier this year I wrote a piece on why Matt Kuchar wouldn’t win a major in 2019. But that was a different me, writing about a different Matt Kuchar. That Matt Kuchar was the nicest guy on the PGA Tour. Since then, he’s been anything but.

Kuchar’s always been known for his goofy smile, G-rated vocabulary and inability to win a major championship. There’s been no reason for Kuchar to curse in 2019, and that goofy smile has come after some impressive play and a No. 2 ranking in the FedEx Cup standings. While the veteran has found himself in the winner’s circle twice this year, he’s always wound up on the wrong side of two miniature scandals.

Following a win at the Mayakoba Classic in November, Kuchar suffered a PR nightmare when his substitute caddie publicized the underwhelming bonus Kuchar offered from his winner’s share of $1.26 million.

Kuchar survived with his reputation wounded, though intact. Just last month he endured another miniature moral meltdown on the way to a runner up finish at the Dell Technologies Match Play. A hot-headed mistake by Sergio Garcia didn’t allow Kuchar time to concede a halved hole. Sergio, who famously made things right after unintentionally stalling Rickie Fowler a few years back, expected a show of sportsmanship from the nicest guy in the game. He didn’t get it.

Kuchar wasn’t necessarily in the wrong when he took advantage of Sergio’s folly, but many were surprised that Mr. Nice Guy didn’t do the right thing.

So here we are, just days away from the Masters, wondering if the stars have aligned for the 40-year-old Kuchar. He’s had a stellar year on the course, if not in the headlines. The new Matt Kuchar has won twice, earned a solo second and tossed in a handful more top 10s so far this season. He’s been a mean, green-finding machine.

Can Kuchar channel his new bad boy persona and win his first major? Stranger things have happened. Two years ago the Cubs won the World Series, Northwestern made the NCAA Tournament, Hell froze over and Sergio won the Masters.

Don’t be surprised if the new Matt Kuchar rolls down Magnolia Lane in a Harley Davidson with a Bridgestone logo face tattoo. I see him grinding out another badass 72 holes, kicking in the door to Butler Cabin and passing on the green jacket in favor of a leather one.

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You heard it here first, Mean Matt Kuchar will be the 2019 Masters Champion.

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