Kuchar Cleans Up

American smiles his way to the biggest win of his career – and a cool US$1.7 million – at the PLAYERS Championship.

Kuchar won for only the fourth time in his career, and the first time since the 2010 Barclays when Martin Laird three-putted the last hole and lost in a play-off.

Laird made the strongest run on a cloudy, breezy afternoon, tying for the lead with this third straight birdie on the 12th. Laird nearly went in the water on the 18th, missed a six-foot par putt for a 67 and wound up in a four-way tie for second.

Rickie Fowler, going for his second straight win, tried to make it interesting with a birdie on the island-green 17th to get within two shots. Kuchar watched from across the water on the 16th green, and then rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt to give him a three-shot lead going to the par-three 17th. Every shot matters standing on a tee and looking at an island. Kuchar found land, three-putted for bogey and made a regulation par at the end.

Fowler missed an eight-foot birdie putt on the 18th and shot 70. Ben Curtis made a 10-foot birdie on the 18th for a 68, while Zach Johnson shot 68 to join the tie for second.

Luke Donald finished alone in sixth after a 66, not quite enough to replace Rory McIlroy at No 1 in the world.

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