On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Matt Kuchar fired off an incredible round Saturday to get himself into the final pairing for the final round of the 3M Open. But it wasn't just the tournament that Kuchar was playing for. It was his chance to extend history.
A little-known fact came back into play on Saturday. Kuchar who has not won since 2019 is in serious jeopardy this season of losing his achievement as the only player never to miss the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Yes, You Read That Right...
The FedEx Cup playoffs were introduced in 2007 by the PGA Tour. The year-long schedule concludes with the Top 70 players making the final stretch. Three tournaments in which the participants are narrowed down week by week until the final tournament featuring only 30 players to end the season. Matt Kuchar is the only player since the inception of the playoffs to play his way into them every single season.
Up until Saturday, Kuchar was in serious jeopardy of not finishing high in the FedEx Cup standings to have a shot at making them. Kuchar will most likely need a win to seal himself in and continue his impressive streak.
KUCH!!!
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 27, 2024
Matt Kuchar holes it for eagle on the par-5 18th to tie the lead @3MOpen. pic.twitter.com/oTnkeBn0vD
On Tap At The Tee Box
Good for Kuch, honestly. This is a little-known fact to most and honestly one of the most impressive. In a way a case could be made that Kuchar is one of if not the most consistent players in PGA Tour history, especially with his last win coming before Covid.
Either way what a week for Kuchar. All eyes are now focused on him tomorrow to see if he can play his way in yet again. It would easily be one of the most well-received victories on the PGA Tour this season and seen as a true accomplishment to the already storied career of the seasoned pro.
More must-reads:
- Jalen Hurts responds to reports about Eagles' alleged frustrations with his play
- Mavericks' Mark Cuban sends strong message on Anthony Davis, but he should change his tune
- The 'NFL single-game completions leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Buccaneers' chances of upsetting Rams take massive hit due to illness in locker room
Many Tampa Bay Buccaneers are under the weather heading into a crucial road game against the Los Angeles Rams on "Sunday Night Football." After a walk-through at Wednesday's practice, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles revealed a mystery illness has broken out in Tampa Bay's building. The coach believes the bug has affected 20 people. Todd Bowles discusses mystery illness "Unfortunately, this Wednesday a lot of people have taken ill," Bowles said, via Matt Matera of PewterReport.com. "There is a bug going around the building. We had about five coaches and about 15 players down, so that helped aid in this walk-through. There's nothing we can really do about that today." Even more concerning for the Buccaneers is that the illness has affected star players. Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield and rookie WR Emeka Egbuka were among those limited because of sickness during Wednesday's practice. How could this impact Sunday's game? Upsetting the Rams already looked difficult enough for the Buccaneers. L.A. (8-2) is second in the NFC behind the Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) and has won five straight games. Tampa Bay (6-4), meanwhile, has been struggling, losing three of its past five games. The slide puts the Buccaneers at risk of losing their lead in the NFC South. The Carolina Panthers (6-5) are second in the division and have captured three of their last five games. The Buccaneers needed big games from Mayfield and Egbuka to beat the Rams on Sunday. After 11 weeks, the QB ranks 12th in the league in passing yards (2,365) and is tied for 10th in passing touchdowns (17). The WR, meanwhile, is 12th in the NFL in receiving yards (717) and is tied for eighth in TD catches (six). As of Wednesday night, ESPN Analytics gives the Rams a 63.5% chance to win their road game. If Egbuka and Mayfield are still battling the illness or can't play, L.A.'s chances of winning should only increase. The illness could certainly affect Tampa Bay's ability to prepare for the pivotal game, potentially leading to a sloppy performance. That would leave many of their fans feeling sick while watching Sunday's matchup.
Packers Receive Disappointing Injury News Before Vikings Matchup
Jayden Reed’s anticipated return to the practice field for the Green Bay Packers will have to wait a little longer. Despite some growing hope earlier this week that the dynamic wide receiver could begin the next phase of his recovery, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Wednesday that Reed will not open his 21-day practice window yet. “He’s not practicing today,” LaFleur said ahead of Sunday’s critical matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. When pressed for a clearer timeline on the second-year standout, who remains on injured reserve with collarbone and foot injuries, LaFleur deferred to the medical staff. “I don’t know. As soon as medical clears him, he’ll be out there,” LaFleur said. “I know he’s excited to get back. As am I.” The optimism had spiked in recent days. On Monday, LaFleur indicated there was a chance Reed and/or rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd could start their practice windows this week. Reed himself fueled the excitement Tuesday by sharing a photo of himself dressed in full uniform on social media. Those plans, however, are now on hold. Reed’s surgically repaired foot seems to have healed satisfactorily, but the collarbone—fractured on a diving attempt during the first half of Green Bay’s Week 2 victory over the Washington Commanders—still needs additional time. For a wide receiver whose job involves regular physical contact and the risk of landing hard on the shoulder, the medical staff is requiring clear imaging evidence that the bone is strong enough before green-lighting a return. The cautious approach echoes the Packers’ handling of Aaron Rodgers’ similar collarbone injury in 2017, when the former quarterback sat out seven games while waiting for full healing. Nearly 10 weeks removed from the injury and having already missed eight contests, Reed could still require another one to two weeks before doctors are comfortable clearing him for football activities. That timeline keeps a potential return for the Thanksgiving night clash with the Detroit Lions or the following week against the Chicago Bears realistically in play. Before the injury, Reed had established himself as Green Bay’s top receiving weapon. He paced the team in receiving yards in both 2023 and 2024, and in the two games he played this season while managing the foot issue, he recorded three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. The Green Bay Packers will continue their Week 12 preparations without their leading wideout on the practice field, with LaFleur and the organization prioritizing full recovery over a rushed comeback.
Michael Penix Jr.'s partially torn ACL complicates Falcons' future
The Atlanta Falcons' once bright future has turned sour. On Wednesday, reports confirmed that second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a partially torn ACL, requiring surgery that will have him out until mid-August 2026. Without a training camp or full preseason, Penix's status for the start of the 2026 season is in doubt. Michael Penix Jr.'s injury update complicates Falcons' future When controversially selecting Penix at No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, one month after signing Kirk Cousins to a contract worth $180 million ($100M guaranteed), Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot reasoned that it would provide stability once Cousins eventually moved on after years spent trying to find former longtime starter Matt Ryan's replacement. Instead, Atlanta is still without a legitimate franchise quarterback. And absent what's trending toward becoming a top-10 first-round pick after a misguided 2025 draft-day trade with the Los Angeles Rams, the Falcons won't have many good options to improve at the position this offseason. Penix's injury could put the team in a difficult spot next offseason, when Atlanta must decide whether to pick up his 2028 fifth-year option. The 2023 Heisman finalist may only qualify for the basic amount, which is projected to be $22.933M for the 2023 first-round quarterback class. That number would rise for the 2024 class, and that's a considerable amount for a player who hasn't proved to be worth that much. (h/t Over the Cap) In 12 career starts, Penix is 224-of-376 (59.6 percent) for 2,719 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Penix will need to show a lot next year, coming off reconstructive knee surgery, to solidify himself as part of Atlanta's future plans. That doesn't bode well for him or the Falcons, who have several outstanding contract situations to resolve. Tight end Kyle Pitts, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, is on an expiring deal. He's been a huge disappointment, but the Falcons don't have a viable replacement behind him. Wideout Drake London is set to play on his fifth-year rookie option next season and would be a holdout candidate if he's unable to work out a long-term deal. Two-time second-team All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III is also set to play on an expiring deal and should request an extension before taking the field next year. Owner Arthur Blank must determine how much money is worth putting into a team that might be a season or two away from contending, possibly leading to difficult conversations. Players like London, Bates and running back Bijan Robinson, who will be in his fourth NFL season in 2026, would command massive returns on the trade market. As talented as the three are, they're being wasted in Atlanta, which has nothing to show for their contributions. With Penix set for a long recovery timeline, things are unlikely to improve much next season, setting the trio up for another year compiling meaningless stats. The Falcons will eventually have to make decisions on all of their young stars, including Penix. His season-ending injury gives them fewer data points to make an informed call while also stalling his development. A season that began with hope has slowly morphed into another nightmare for Atlanta. It could be a while before the Falcons wake.
Wild Jalen Hurts stat shows he's not the problem with Eagles offense
The Philadelphia Eagles' offense has not been as explosive since Kevin Patullo took over as the new offensive coordinator. The play-calling has been pretty predictable, and, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, some players blame quarterback Jalen Hurts for it. "Multiple offensive players have grown frustrated with Jalen Hurts' approach this season, particularly against zone coverage," Russini reported. However, advanced stats indicate that the Eagles aren't maximizing the talents of the reigning Super Bowl MVP. Jalen Hurts has been elite in deep throws this season According to Pro Football Focus on X, Hurts has seven touchdowns, zero interceptions and an outstanding passer rating of 128.2 in throws over 20 yards this season. The Eagles keep running a very conservative offense, even though, per Sharp Football Stats, 10% of their pass plays (55) have been explosive. Explosive pass plays are those that result in a gain of at least 20 yards. Hurts has been absolutely elite in those situations, and with two speedy receivers like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, this team should be taking more shots down the field. Although they aren't as dominant as last season, the Eagles are still 8-2 and at the top of the NFC East. They have all the resources needed to return to the Super Bowl, and anything less than another deep postseason run should be seen as a failure. Then again, the coaching staff needs to put the players in a position to succeed, and that includes letting them do what they do best.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
