In this week’s “The Starter,” PGA professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, gives his thoughts on the week that was in golf for R.org. Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron shatter records and deliver an emotional victory at the PNC Championship. Lee Trevino reminds everyone why he’s a legend. And Jayden Schaper makes it two DP World Tour titles in two weeks with another playoff eagle in Mauritius.

PNC Championship: The Kuchars Rewrite History

A Victory for the Ages

Matt Kuchar couldn’t hold back the tears. His voice cracked. The words came slowly.

“I don’t know if you believe in something magical that does… God, that Dad is up above looking… and hit a shot. For me to hit it to… Just miss Pops.”

The 47-year-old had just won the PNC Championship with his 18-year-old son Cameron, posting a record-shattering 33-under 111 to win by seven strokes. They carded rounds of 57-54, breaking the tournament’s 36-hole scoring record by five shots and the 18-hole record with their Sunday 54.

But the numbers, as staggering as they were, couldn’t capture what this victory meant.

Peter Kuchar died in February of a heart attack while swimming on a Caribbean cruise with his wife, Meg. He had been a constant presence in Matt’s golf journey, caddying for him at the 1997 U.S. Amateur and supporting him when he turned professional the following year. He had played alongside Matt at the PNC Championship before yielding the stage to Matt’s sons.

“And now to have this shot with the family, it’s clearly missing… missing one,” Matt said, pausing because his voice was so choked with emotion. “But it’s special, very special.”

Dominance from Start to Finish

The Kuchars didn’t just win. They ran away with it.

Cameron, who signed with TCU in November to start playing in fall 2026, birdied the first hole Sunday. Matt hit a hybrid to 12 feet for an eagle on the third. They made only two pars in the scramble format and countered that with two eagles.

They became the 10th wire-to-wire winner in PNC Championship history and the fourth team to convert a first-round lead into victory. They had led going into the final day twice before and couldn’t hold it. On Sunday, they started with a two-shot lead and turned it into a rout.

“If they end up getting to 30 (under), you’re talking about only six holes missed in 36 holes. That’s remarkable,” said David Duval, whose team finished T2.

Turns out the Kuchars were even better. Thirty-three under. The margin of victory — seven strokes — broke the previous record of six set by Team Floyd in 1995.

On the final hole, Cameron hammered another drive. Matt hit a 7-iron to 18 inches. Then Matt gave his son the honor of tapping in for the final touch on an unforgettable week.

Both received the Willie Park Trophy and a red belt, which Matt jokingly said would look good with his tartan jacket from the RBC Heritage.

The Merry Mex Still Has It

Lee Trevino delivered the highlight of the day that didn’t involve the Kuchars. The 85-year-old legend jarred a lob wedge for eagle on the 13th hole, prompting roars from the gallery and reminding everyone why he’s one of golf’s all-time greats.

“I eat it, I sleep it, I walk it, I talk it,” Trevino said about his love for the game.

John Daly and John Daly II, a senior at Arkansas and the Southern Amateur champion, made eagle on the last hole for a 59 to tie for second at 26-under with Davis Love III and Dru Love. This was Team Love’s fourth runner-up finish at the PNC Championship and Team Daly’s third.

Nelly Korda and her father, Petr, finished T4 at 25-under alongside Steve Stricker and his daughter, Izzi. Both teams shot 59 on Sunday and posted their best finishes at the event.

All of them looked at the scoreboards coming in and knew there was no catching the Kuchars. Not on this day. Not this year.

DP World Tour: Schaper’s Fairy Tale Continues

Two Weeks, Two Titles, Two Playoff Eagles

Jayden Schaper is making a habit of this.

One week after winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship with a playoff eagle, the 24-year-old South African did it again at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. He holed out from off the green on the second playoff hole to defeat American Ryan Gerard and claim his second DP World Tour title in as many weeks.

“I don’t even know what to say. That’s just such an insane way to finish a tournament,” Schaper said. “I wait five years for the first (title) and then the following week (to get the second) is so cool.”

Sunday Surge and Playoff Drama

Schaper started the final round two shots off the lead but fired a flawless 64 with an eagle and six birdies to set the clubhouse target at 22-under par. Gerard needed a birdie on the last to force a playoff and produced a shot-of-the-week contender, getting up and down from a tricky spot to make it happen.

There was nothing to separate them at the first extra hole. Then Schaper chipped in for an eagle on the second.

Gerard, who finished alone in second after making six birdies in his closing 66, had the consolation prize of finishing the year inside the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking. The 2025 Barracuda Championship winner had taken the long trip to Heritage La Réserve Golf Links specifically to punch his ticket to the 2026 Masters Tournament. Mission accomplished.

Opening Swing Champion

Having also finished T2 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge prior to his two wins, Schaper comfortably topped the Opening Swing standings. The three-week stretch in South Africa and Mauritius couldn’t have gone better.

“The last three weeks have been incredible,” Schaper said. “It’s been such a great week, such an awesome place, the support, the golf course. From start to finish. I could not have asked for anything better. Christmas is going to be good this year, and the New Year. It’s just unreal.”

Casey Jarvis finished alone in third, five shots back after a final-round 71.

Schaper made a lightning-quick start Sunday with back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth before holing his eagle putt from five feet on the fifth. He birdied the 11th, then the 15th, 16th, and 18th to reach 22-under and force the playoff.

Two playoff holes later, he was a two-time DP World Tour winner. Both times via playoff eagle. Both times in December.

Some players wait their entire careers for moments like these. Schaper got two in two weeks.