PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – No player has ever won The Players in back-to-back years. In fact, there is just one two-time champion (Davis Love III) in this week’s field, but that legacy seems in danger of ending if Matt Kuchar continues to play the way he has for two days at TPC Sawgrass.
The 2012 Players champion followed an opening 71 with a 66 on Friday and is tied for seventh place at 7 under, four strokes behind front-runner Sergio Garcia.
“You’ve just got to be playing good golf, whether it’s past champions or not. Course knowledge only helps when you’re playing good golf,” said Kuchar, who already has a victory this year on Tour (WGC-Accenture Match Play) and hasn’t missed a cut in 10 starts. “Take Rory McIlroy, who has played terrible golf around here or not made a cut, but he’s not playing good golf when he’s shown up here.”
Kuchar also has a bit of history on his side to become the first repeat Players champion. Through two rounds last year he was only one stroke better (8 under) through 36 holes.
