Matt Kuchar’s 2025 began on a heavy note as his father, Peter, passed away suddenly from a heart attack during his wife Meg’s birthday celebration. While that left a giant hole in the heart of the nine-time PGA Tour winner and his family, the closing of the year brought something magical for them at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in sunny Florida.

The 47-year-old and his son, Cameron, played like golf gods to win the PNC Championship, crushing the old record by five shots with a stunning 33-under-par total, and seven shots ahead of the second-place Team Love. And after the final putt, the PGA Tour shared a video that showed a tearful Kuchar hugging his family while fans cheered their success.

“It’s certainly been tough for me that Dad missed,” Kuchar said. “I definitely got very emotional there coming in, thinking about this moment and how much it would mean to Dad if he were here. So I know Pop’s giving big fist pumps up in the sky.”

“I don’t know if you believe in karma, if you believe in fate, whatever you believe in, there’s something … something magical that does exist. I’m a believer in God, that Dad is up above looking down, and what happened on 18  — I could hardly stand up and hit a shot. For me to hit it to a foot [on the final hole] makes me think there’s something more out there. [I] just miss pops,” he added.

Peter Kuchar first became visible on a golf course when he caddied for his son in the U.S. Amateur in 1997, and at the Masters and U.S. Open the next year. Then he paired three times with Matt Kuchar at the PNC Championship.

News served to you like never before!

Prefer us on Google, To get latest news on feed

Prefer Us on Google

The American golfer also thanked Rob Reilly and the PNC team for making this event possible. Additionally, the victory felt extra special because of the funny memories associated with the championship, and Kooch laughed through his tears while remembering his father’s silly golf mistakes. If only his father were there to witness the dominant performance.

Nobody got close to the Kuchars on Sunday, and the eagle at the 18th hole in the second round gave them a seven-shot lead over the runner-up. For Matt’s son Cameron, who had wanted that famous red Willie Park trophy for many years and is set to play for the men’s golf team at Texas Christian University, finally having the trophy is something his grandfather would have loved.

Team Kuchar ended the final round with an 18-hole tournament record, which included two eagles, 14 birdies, and just two pars, totaling a 33-under.

“This is something we’ve had our sights on for many years, since Cameron got started. I played my first year with Dad, [Cameron] has some great memories,” Matt Kuchar said. “The classic memories of Dad and Cameron were caddying, and we were just shy of the green in two, close to the water’s edge, and his chipping was never his strong suit, and he completely whiffed the chip. I don’t think Cameron could see all the way down the hill. Dad is smiling from above.”

Indeed, his father is smiling from above, watching both his son and his grandson fare so well in a competitive field.

How the rest of the field played

The Wild Thing, John Daly, and his son, John Daly II, put up a massive fight to defend their honor. They started the final day only two shots behind the leaders after a great 59 on Saturday. However, even their second 59 on Sunday could not bridge the massive gap the Kuchar family created. Team Love also joined them at 26-under-par to share the second-place spot on the final 2025 leaderboard. Davis Love III and Dru birdied their last three holes to finish the year with huge smiles and a second-place finish.

The world No. 2 Nelly Korda played very steady golf all weekend to finish in a tie for fourth place at 25-under alongside her father, Petr. Steve Stricker and his daughter, Izzi, also shared that spot after matching the Kordas on the fast greens. Both teams entered the tournament in great form, but could not catch the Kuchars on Sunday afternoon.

And with all this, the PNC Championship event marks the final big celebration of the 2025 golf season before everyone takes a break. The PGA Tour will return a little later than the previous season, as the PGA canceled the Sentry in Maui, Hawaii. But the LPGA will begin its new season shortly after at the Hilton Grand Vacations event. And fans must wait until next December to see the families return to Orlando for another PNC Championship battle.