AKRON, Ohio – Matt Kuchar finished with a 12-foot birdie at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which had no bearing on the outcome but still had a few ramifications.
Kuchar tied for third, so that putt was worth an additional $249,250. It cost Jordan Spieth enough world ranking points that Dustin Johnson moved ahead of him to No. 2 by the slimmest of margins.
And that birdie putt could send Kuchar to the Olympics.
Whether he earns a spot in Rio de Janeiro is now out of Kuchar's hands. The Americans are allowed the maximum four players because all of them are among the top 15 in the world ranking, and the birdie allowed him to move to No.