Remember Matt Kuchar? He is a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour, an Olympic bronze medalist, and has 12 top-10 finishes in the majors - most notably when Jordan Spieth produced a finish for the ages to break his heart at the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
He has earned more than $60m in prize money, more than anybody else without a major title to his name. But he is 48 years old, is without a victory since 2019 and his glory days are long behind him.
Kuchar has played in 495 events and will add to that total at this week’s Austin Championship, knowing that he simply has to win if he is to continue playing on the PGA Tour in 2027. He wouldn’t be the first veteran to salvage his career with a late change of fortune but it is difficult to see him turning this around.
His figures are astonishing. Apart from his nine wins, he has finished second 15 times, third 16 times and has a mind-blowing 63 top fives to his credit.
But his last good year was 2023, when he finished second once, third once and in the top five twice. Since then it has been a story of missed cuts, with top-10s as rare as hen’s teeth.
He is a thoroughly likeable individual who does a huge amount for charitable causes and although his mainstream career may be nearing its end, he is certain to make a fortune on the Champions Tour.
He begins this week in 158th place in the FedEx Fall standings.
After this week only one tournament remains so there are only two chances left for players to either secure their cards or gain places in the first two Signature Events of 2027 through the Fall Bonus points.
And that means the heat is really on for a host of players.
Billy Horschel is another veteran who has enjoyed tremendous success both in America and on the DP World Tour. He has been blighted by injury over the past couple of years and finished the main season in 100th place in the FedEx Cup standings, right on the bubble. He has improved to 97th during the Fall Season but had to withdraw from the Mexico Championship.
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
He has made 28 starts this season but has only one top-10 start to show for his efforts. Horschel will know that if it all goes pear-shaped he is likely to receive several sponsors’ invites and has the back-up of being able to turn to the DP World Tour to rebuild his career.
Speaking of injury, you will no doubt be aware that Will Zalatoris has already announced that he will miss the whole of 2027. He is due to undergo major back surgery which he hopes will save his career and it was a major surprise that, this being the case, he had agreed to accept an invitation to compete this week. In the end, he decided not to risk doing further damage to his back.
Neal Shipley is widely regarded as being one of the game’s brightest prospects but has had a horrible season and his PGA Tour future is hanging by a thread as he languishes in 121st place in the Fall Series.
The encouraging thing is that after a succession of missed cuts, Shipley’s recent form has been encouraging.
He was the low amateur at the 2024 Masters, where he was the only amateur to make the cut and played alongside Tiger Woods in the final round. He earned his PGA Tour card after winning twice on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025 and has three top-10 finishes on Tour, including a tie for third at this year’s Biltmore Championship Asheville.
In his first three events on the PGA Tour after turning pro, Shipley had a top-20 finish at the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic and a tied sixth at the Isco.
The following season, he earned his first professional win, claiming the Suncoast Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour. In July 2025, Shipley shot a final-round 64 to come back from seven shots back to win The Ascendant for his second Korn Ferry Tour victory of the season.
Andrew Novak is walking on air after winning the Mexico Championship. After 140 starts and several near-misses, he finally has his first individual title. The only real surprise is that it has taken him so long.
The 31-year-old has struggled for consistency throughout his career and will be hoping his breakthrough win changes everything for him. He likes this part of the world, enjoying a top 10 finish at the Texas Open earlier this year.
England’s Marco Penge has not had the season he would have hoped for but looks like keeping his card. A good finish here will do the job for him.
The Austin Championship is a new event but it has had a troubled start. It was originally meant to be sponsored by Good Good but that all fell apart in August.
After a huge public backlash over a promotional advertisement for a Callaway driver. It depicted Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark shoving colleague Alexis Miestowski to the ground, triggering criticism across the golf industry. Callaway subsequently ended its relationship with Good Good, while the popular golf media company withdrew from its PGA Tour sponsorship commitment.
Good Good CEO Matt Kendrick acknowledged the organization's problems at the time, saying: "We recognise that we have work to do as an organisation."
There were doubts as to whether the tournament would go ahead but Compliance Solutions has stepped into the breach. The company isn't a newcomer to professional golf. It has sponsored the Korn Ferry Tour's Compliance Solutions Championship since 2023 and expanded its involvement this season through the Route 66 Cup, a four-event competition featuring a $100,000 bonus pool.
The course:
Barton Creek was designed by Tom Fazio. It is a tree-lined par 72 measuring 7,433 yards that features a creek that comes into play on several holes. Accuracy is the key here.
Prize money:
The total prize fund is $6m, with $1.08n going to the winner.
How to watch:
Thursday, November 12-Sunday, November 15, Sky Sports Golf, 7pm.
Form guide:
Jackson Koivun is utterly fearless and seems certain to become a star - victory here would be the next step on that journey.
To win:
Jackson Koivun. Outstanding youngster
Each way:
Lucas Glover. Still has what it takes
Each way:
Andrew Novak. Riding high
Five to follow:
Jackson Koivun. Superstar in the making
Lucas Glover. Loves this time of year
Andrew Novak. Loves to attack
Marco Penge. Brilliant ball striker
Billy Horschel. Fighting for his future
Five outsiders to watch:
Brian Harman. Former Open champion is a gritty competitor
Neil Shipley. Huge talent
Matt Kuchar. Blast from the past
John Parry. Still battling
Miles Russell. Teenage sensation
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