Kuchar An Unlikely Tonight Show Successor After Failed Jab At Faldo

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Doug Ferguson explains why 6&5 loser Matt Kuchar's ultra-dry delivery suggests he stick to his career in golf.

Approached behind the 13th green for an interview, Kuchar looked into the camera and, smiling broadly, said: “I’d feel better if I could punch Faldo flat on the back of the neck.” As the interview ended, Kuchar leaned toward the camera, and said: “Sorry Nick.”

Nick Faldo, the six-time major champion and television analyst, was critical of putters that are anchored to the body during a roundtable discussion Friday night on Golf Channel. Faldo wasn’t working the tournament telecast Saturday.

Jeff Rude says Kuchar tracked Faldo down in the parking lot to explain the joke.

As Kuchar was explaining himself by the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club clubhouse, Faldo walked by. Kuchar excused himself from a few reporters and chased Faldo down in the parking lot.

“Nick, Nick!” he called out as he approached the man who won six major championships.

Kuchar wanted Faldo to hear about the quote from him first. He explained himself, they talked for a couple of minutes and Faldo patted him on the back.

Steve Elling said the basis for the joke was Friday's State of the Game show.

Broadcast analyst Nick Faldo had expressed on the air Friday night that he felt long putters gave players an advantage, and after Kuchar raked the ball all over Dove Mountain in his loss, three-putting from everywhere, he said he wanted to whack "Faldo in the neck."

Of course, minus the context, some wondered whether he was serious. Kuchar immediately sought out the six-time major winner to explain himself.

It was a joke that misfired about as badly as his putting stroke. He was trying to suggest that, given the way he putted Saturday with his long model, it was reason enough not to ban the long sticks.

"I think I have a chilly sense of humor," Kuchar explained later. "It was meant to be funny. Nick’s a big boy [physically]. I don’t want any piece of him. I thought it might be funny.

"It was funny in my mind. I don’t know if it was funny in anybody else’s mind."

Faldo took to Twitter to confirm there is no row here, in case you were worried.