Consistent Kuchar massive value to be Top US player in PGA C’ship

You will struggle to find a more consistent player on this year’s PGA Tour than Matt Kuchar. He has however often found two or three players in better form when striving to land the big events. So with the European’s of Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and Luke Donald looking poised to strike in the US PGA, the man from Florida is a very appealing price at 18/1 to be the Top American Player.

In 18 tour events Kuchar has yet failed to make a cut, recording 11 top 25 finishes and has populated the top 10 of the leaderboard seven times.

A win in the The Memorial Tournament and a Match Play event in February have been his two successes this year. His consistency has also seen ‘Kooch’ finish second on two occasions, in the Canadian Open and the Crowne Plaza Invitational.

Although yet to land a Major, he has again showed that has the all round game to compete in the big events. Since 2010, the 35 year-old has recorded nine top 25 finishes in 11 Majors contested.

The reasoning behind backing him to land the top US representative on honour in Rochester relates to the way in which Oak Hill is set up. Whereas some events on this years tour will reward the big hitters who are able to power a 300 yard drive up a wide fairway, the Rochester course will favour those whose shot-making ability in and around the greens can land them a birdie or two.

And there are few better short game players on the PGA Tour than Kuchar. Sitting 21st in the ‘Strokes Gained – Putting’ table and 4th in the ‘Sand Save Percentage’, it is clear that is where he can win tournaments.

This is an advantage that the likes of Stenson, Rose and Donald can also be expected to use to lay down their challenge.

Fancied (and very short in price) as always, Tiger Woods is one of those players who can gain strokes with a monster drive. Throw into the mix Dustin Johnson and Keegan Bradley, it is clear to see a number of Kuchar’s compatriots fall into the ‘Powerhouse’ mould.

33/1 to win outright is certainly a tempting price, but with fierce competition from the rest of the world, taking 18/1, with each way bets covering the first four, about Kuchar seeing off his fellow Americans looks the way to go.

All odds and markets correct as of the date of publishing