Memorial Tournament 2013: Can Matt Kuchar Stare Down Tiger Woods at U.S. Open?

Matt Kuchar is the most successful golfer on the PGA Tour this year not named Tiger Woods.

Kuchar's two-stroke win Sunday in the Memorial was his second victory of the season—he won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February—and makes him the second multiple winner on tour this year. Woods, who has four tour victories, is the other. Kuchar moved up to No. 4 in the world rankings and No. 2 in the FedEx Cup standings. Woods is No. 1 on both lists.

Is Kuchar now ready to challenge the man whose main mission is winning majors? Is he prepared to stare down Woods in two weeks at the U.S. Open?

We gave the Magic 8-ball a shake. The answer: "Signs point to yes."

Kuchar Won't be Intimidated by Tiger

The days are long gone when other golfers' knees would knock in the mere presence of Woods. He remains golf's dominant player, but he's proven to be human. The nine-hole 44 he carded Saturday at the Memorial—the worst nine-hole score of Woods' career—made that abundantly clear.

And Kuchar won't flinch if he's paired with Woods at some point in the Open. He's already played before with Tiger. Twice. And both times were under potentially stressful circumstances. Kuchar seemed to soak in the experience on each occasion.

Kuchar was still an amateur when he was paired with Woods for the first two rounds of the 1998 Masters. He was the defending U.S. Amateur champion and Woods was the defending Masters champion. Kuchar shot even-par 288 to earn low amateur in the event.

They were paired again for the first two rounds of the 2010 Masters. It marked Woods' tour return following the cheating scandal that led to his divorce. The spectacle on the first day included a plane flying a pair of banners that mocked Woods. Kuchar said he never noticed what went on above. He was focused on his golf, although he did acknowledge the huge gallery. 

"It was cool," Kuchar said at the time. "It was an up-front seat for Tiger's welcome back. And it was exactly that. He had everybody just wishing him well. It was fun to be a part of and some darn good golf. I didn't know what to expect from a golfing standpoint."

Kuchar Appears Ready to Take the Next Step and Win His First Major

Kuchar's best showings in majors—tied for third at the 2012 Masters; tied for sixth at the 2010 U.S. Open; tied for ninth at the 2012 British Open; tied for 10th at the 2010 PGA Championship—all have come within the past three years.

It took him a decade to get to this point. Kuchar played on the final day of a major just once—when he finished tied for 48th at the 2008 U.S. Open—the first 10 years of his career. He missed the cut in his other 10 majors appearances. 

Kuchar, 34, has since learned something about the pressure of playing for a championship on the final day. He was tied for the lead on the back nine on Sunday at the Masters last year before a bogey on the par-3 16th hole dropped him back. He finished two strokes behind eventual champion Bubba Watson.

Asked what he learned about himself that day, Kuchar said:

"I've always felt like I was never going to give up, and I've played a lot of rounds of golf where things weren't going well, and I stuck with it knowing that there was going to be a situation and a time like this where things weren't going to go my way there for a while, and if I could stick with it—it was great to see those efforts pay off."

Consistency Now a Hallmark of Kuchar's Game

After losing his tour card in 2005, Kuchar spent time on the Nationwide Tour before earning his card back in 2007. An improved swing and renewed confidence have made a difference. Five of his six tour victories have come since his return. This is his first year with multiple wins. 

"Great golf breeds more great golf," said Kuchar. "Winning tournaments breeds more winning tournaments. Anytime you can get comfortable playing in that final group, finishing off a tournament, winning a tournament is a huge amount of confidence."

Kuchar missed just one fairway and two greens in the final round at the Memorial. Nothing in particular jumped out about his game. He was simply steady. It is an especially good trait at the Open, where par is a pretty good score.

While Merion Golf Club will be hosting the Open for the fifth time, it is the first time there in 32 years. Kuchar, like many players in the field, has not played the course. He likes his chances, nonetheless.

"Heading into Merion, I'll have a lot of confidence," he said. "It's a course I've not seen before, so I'll have to do some learning. I think most guys will be in a similar boat in having to learn that golf course. But from what I understand you've got to drive it well, as you do in a U.S. Open, and I feel like I've been really driving the ball well."

Nicklaus Gives Kuchar a Tip to Take with Him

Kuchar sat with Jack Nicklaus, the host for the Memorial, Sunday evening for the winner's press conference. At one point, the conversation turned to the U.S. Open. Who better to question about winning majors than the man who has won more than anyone?

So Kuchar asked the Golden Bear: "What would you do coming up with Merion?" Said Nicklaus:

"

"When you go to a Major, you know that you're going to be more nervous because you feel like you have more pressure on you. And that's the biggest reason why I went a week ahead of time to a Major scene, Major venue. I would go there to get rid of my nervousness, worrying about the rough or about the narrowness of fairways, worrying about the speed of the greens, firmness of the greens, and just being the U.S. Open. I'd go there and spend a few days until I was comfortable with the golf course and comfortable with what I was doing.

"And then I would go home and get everything out of my mind, enjoy my weekend, and then I would go back and all I had to worry about then was my playing the event."

"

Nicklaus seemed only too happy to offer some words of wisdom. Of course, he has a vested interest in this thing. Woods, who hasn't won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, is four back of Nicklaus' record 18 major victories. Maybe Kuchar can delay what most people still view as inevitable—Woods' date with destiny.

Nicklaus' message hit the mark. Kuchar said he will be driving to Merion on Tuesday and staying "until I get used to it."

Nothing like getting a tip from a Bear on how to tame a Tiger.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.