As long as there are professional golfers there will be fools who think they can hit them head to head.
One of those fools is Ray Whitney, the former professional hockey player and current scratch handicap member of Whisper Rock Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. With Spaces of Influence (NHL) and wealth (at Whisper Rock), Whitney was lucky enough to see and interact with a large number of PGA Tour professionals, including the boss of Matt Kuchar.
Kuchar is also a member of Whisper Rock and as Whitney explained on this week’s episode of GOLF’s Subpar, the Pro and Joe had a duel to remember (or forget!)
“Those of you who don’t know me out there, I’m not very tall, but I like to be a little cocky,” said Whitney. “I was very lucky to win the club championship and obviously Matt is up there, he didn’t play in it. But I was having dinner with him when he came back and I had just enough tequila in me to say to him, ‘Matt, just so you know, you’re the second best golfer on the property and I had her. .. put a ‘Club Champion’ sign on my golf cart. ‘ Just to give it to him. “
Known for his surprisingly ironic streak, Kuchar heard Whitney’s message loud and clear.
“He laughed and said, ‘Okay, when are you going to play tomorrow?’ And I said. ’10: 10, as always. ‘ And he says: ‘Okay, I’ll be there tomorrow.’ ”
The next morning Whitney met Kuchar on the first tee.
“He shows up at 10:09 am in his pickleball uniform, he hasn’t even hit a ball, he’s coming from the pickleball court,” remembers Whitney. “He puts on his golf shoes, we go out, we play, and from the start I am muzzled, as I usually am. We’re both between three under four, and that’s why I think: ‘We’re hanging!’ “
As soon as the thought occurred to Whitney, his circle began to crumble. By the time they reached the corner, Kuchar had taken a comfortable lead. By the time the afternoon broke, the 9-time PGA Tour winner had won – without warming up, of course.
The hilarious prank the legendary prankster Matt Kuchar did on him
James Colgan
“Then he turned at 61 and ended up beating me at nine,” said Whitney. “The humble cake was served properly. I knew it was going to happen, but I didn’t know it was going to happen. “
So what did Whitney expect? Well, he says, not quite the beating he got.
“I didn’t expect to beat him, there are enough good players at Whisper Rock to know that but I didn’t know I was going to get such an absolute a-keep.”
To hear the rest of Whitney’s Subpar interview, including who he’s least favored against, check out the video below.
James Colgan
James Colgan is Associate Editor at GOLF, contributing stories for the website and magazine on a wide range of topics. He writes the Hot Mic, GOLF’s weekly media column, and leverages his broadcasting experience on the brand’s social media and video platforms. A 2019 graduate of Syracuse University, James – and obviously his golf game – is still thawing from four years of gritting his teeth at NFL Films, CBS News, and Fox Sports. Before joining GOLF, James was a Caddy Scholar (and smart looper) on Long Island, which is where he’s from.