In-form Matt Kuchar has revealed he sacrificed playing for a share of almost $A9 million at his home-town US PGA Tour event in Georgia to tee up at the $1.25 million Australian Open.
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But the highest-ranked player in the field at The Lakes has no regrets about his "great family adventure" having shot himself into contention after two rounds.
Kuchar fired a five-under 67 on day two to climb to seven under for the tournament, one shot back of Korean leader Byeong Hun An (69).
Kuchar won last week's PGA Tour event in Mexico and, after pocketing $US1.3 million ($A1.8 million) winner's cheque, made a 14,000km dash to Sydney - arriving only a day before the Open got underway.
"It's a big commitment to make it down here," Kuchar said on Friday.
"There's definitely a bit of jet lag."
Kuchar lives on Sea Island, Georgia - minutes from the host course of the RSM Classic being held this week.
"Yes, that is a tough one. That's a home-town event," Kuchar said.
"It is hard not to be waking up in my own bed and supporting the home-town event.
"But this is a trip I got excited about with the opportunity to play here and the World Cup (in Melbourne next week).
"It's just a great two weeks; a great adventure for the family."
After several hours of winner's commitments following his one-stroke triumph at the Mayakoba Classic on Sunday, not even a private jet to Los Angeles was enough for 40-year-old Kuchar to make his connecting flight to Australia.
Kuchar, his wife and two sons were stuck in LA for 24 hours before departing for Sydney.
But the eight-time PGA Tour winner says skipping the Australian Open never crossed his mind.
"I would never bail. I was looking forward to this event and I'm still glad to be here.
"I hope to see a bit more sunny skies here in Sydney, that would be pleasing, but I've been excited for this trip for a while and certainly still glad to be down here."
Australian Associated Press
