Matt Kuchar is closing in on Masters win

Nothing beats being in contention on the final nine holes at the Masters Tournament – except for winning it, which is the next step for Matt Kuchar.

A six-time PGA Tour winner, Kuchar has been close the past two years at Augusta National Golf Club. He tied for third place in 2012 after leading the tournament through 69 holes. Last year, he tied for eighth.

“It’s more exciting (when you have a chance to win),” Kuchar said. “In golf, the juices really get going when you’re in contention on Sunday. It’s still the same as any other round, it counts the same, but it’s awfully exciting when you’ve got a chance to win on Sunday.”

In 2013, Kuchar was three shots off the lead entering the final round, thanks to a third-round 3-under-par 69. In that round, Kuchar birdied all four par-5s.

“It’s doable,” Kuchar said. “The par‑5s are opportunities that you want to take advantage of. I would say that it’s a good feat, because even though they are all potential birdie holes, they’re all potential bogey holes or holes that you can mess up on.”

His longest birdie putt on the par-5s in the third round was 6 feet. In order, he made a 2-footer on No. 2, a 4-footer on No. 8, a 6-footer on No. 13 and a 2-footer on No. 15.

He wasn’t as successful in the final round, playing the par-5s in 2-under (birdies on Nos. 8 and 15) as he went from 69 to 73.

“A 73 is not that bad,” Kuchar said. “You better be dialed in and sharp to shoot 69. A 69 to a 73 is four strokes, but I think it’s a small difference in sharpness.”

In his career, Kuchar has shown he can play well in regular PGA events and in the majors, where course conditions are tougher. Augusta National Golf Club normally falls on the “difficult side” of courses. The winning score was 10-under 278 in 2012 and 279 in 2013.

“I think the nature of the game is you have to look forward to a shootout or if it’s a U.S. Open style par-fest,” Kuchar said. “You have to look forward to either side of it. As a golfer, you’re better off being excited whether it’s hard or easy.”

He showed his mettle last month on a tough course at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral, where gusts reached 36 mph in the second round and the scoring average for the first two rounds was 74.904. He was one of only four players under par through 36 holes.

“I think you kind of have to embrace the challenge,” Kuchar said. “I think you have to look forward to seeing what sort of shots you can come up with. It’s going to be hard.”

This will be Kuchar’s eighth Masters. His 1998 debut as an amateur was memorable because he tied for 21stand had his father, Peter, as his caddie.

“I remember every day walking up the 18th with dad caddying for me and kind of pulling back for a minute and just trying to soak it all in, kind of slowing down the walk as we get close to the 18th green going, ‘Can you believe we played another round and made our way around Augusta National and the Masters?’ ” Kuchar said.

“I was just trying to enjoy every moment. They were great memories, and 1998, it’s been a long time ago, but it feels like yesterday to me. Every time I walk that hill I still think of those amateur days with Dad, kind of reflecting on that.”

He now pictures himself marching up the hill to the 18th green on his way to victory.

“I think all golfers have dreamed of it,” he said. “It would be amazing to come up the 72nd with a lead – with a big lead and basically have the championship sewed up.”