SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Matt Kuchar has announced his withdrawal from the WM Phoenix Open, citing the unexpected passing of his father, Peter Kuchar. In a statement released, Matt expressed his deep sorrow, revealing that his father died on Tuesday.

Peter Kuchar was a familiar figure at various golf tournaments and had a significant role in Matt’s early career, including serving as his caddy during the 1997 U.S. Amateur victory at Cog Hill. Following this success, Peter supported his son as Matt contended in prestigious events like the Masters and U.S. Open the subsequent year. The family resided in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, after having grown up in central Florida. Prior to his golfing support, Peter was a well-regarded figure in state-level doubles tennis.

In his heartfelt tribute, Matt shared, “My Pop was a huge fan of sport and passed on his love of competition to me.” He further reflected on the profound influence his father had on his introduction to golf, stating, “Those memories, and so many more, will be with me and our family forever. He will be missed more than words can express.”

The bond between Matt and his father was evident during their participation together in the PNC Championship in 2018, and Peter was present once again as his son’s caddy during the last December event.

Kuchar boasts an impressive record on the PGA Tour with nine victories to his name, including notable tournaments such as The Players Championship, the Memorial, a World Golf Championship, and a significant FedEx Cup playoff event.