Following the recent Wyndham Championship, it has been reported that Matt Kuchar (US) began his round alone on a deserted course at 8 am local time on Monday to conclude Hole 18 and formally wrap up his last round of golf. This action, however, did not alter the final results, as Aaron Rai, aged 29, had already secured his first PGA Tour win, marking a significant turning point in his career. This achievement cements his status among the elite golfers and presents new professional avenues.

Kuchar proceeded with a free drop from his tee shot on Sunday evening – a second shot executed 189 yards, landing just shy of the green – followed by a 34-yard chip and a brief putt for par on the 503-yard par 4 hole. He subsequently signed his scorecard, and the tournament concluded in compliance with all rules. He ended in a tie for 12th place at 11 under par.

It is worth noting that Kuchar, despite not being in contention for the tournament or the FedEx Cup Rankings, chose not to finish his final round due to insufficient light on Sunday night, unlike the rest of the competitors. There is no fault to be attributed to Kuchar; the situation was unfortunate but within his rights as a player.

Has there ever been such extensive focus on a single player competing alone in a professional tournament? The preparation for the golf course, media, volunteers, officials, security, catering, TV coverage, ticketing, corporate hospitality, and more – was this the organizer's worst nightmare? It is speculated that these aspects were likely scaled down for clear reasons.

Subsequent events saw updates to the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and FedEx Cup Rankings. Notably, Aaron Rai moved up to the 22nd spot from last week's 48th. At the beginning of the year, he was ranked 64th. In the FedEx Cup Standings, he now holds 25th place. He is also the second-highest ranked English player in the OWGR, trailing only Tommy Fleetwood in 11th, with Matt Fitzpatrick (24th), Tyrrell Hatton (31st), and Justin Rose (46th) following.

Rai's career trajectory includes joining the PGA Tour in 2022 after progressing through the Korn Ferry Tour, EuroPro Tour (now the Clutch Pro Tour), the Challenge Tour, and the DP World Tour. There is little doubt that he will continue his ascent through the golf rankings. Rai, who has perhaps not yet received the recognition his performances merit, is undoubtedly a golfer to keep an eye on as he aims to continue his meteoric rise in the golfing world.