Reporting from Southport, England — Matt Kuchar went from sharing a lead in the British Open to third place Friday, and he was feeling pretty good about it.
That’s because Kuchar survived a gusty day at Royal Birkdale with a 1-over-par 71, to finish the day at 4 under. Co-leaders Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka had yet to tee off by the time Kuchar was in the media tent, recounting his round.
Now Kuchar, 39, who has never won a major championship, gets to go back to the place he’s staying and watch the afternoon rounds, with the distinct possibility that the conditions will get even worse.
“I think that’s one of the cool things over here, whether it’s Thursday or Friday, whatever your morning round is, getting to go back to the room, put on the TV and watch the guys play in the afternoon, and particularly in tough conditions,” he said. “I think that’s kind of what we know about the Open, and I think that’s what people enjoy about the British Open, is watching the hard wind, the rain, the guys just trying to survive out there.
“Today is my day. I get to kick back in the afternoon and watch the guys just try to survive...”
Kuchar got as low as 6 under, but gave two back with two bogeys on the final three holes.
The cut, which will come at the end of Friday’s rounds, is currently projected at plus-4.
1/38
Jordan Spieth plays out of a bunker on the 17th hole during the third round of the British Open Golf Championship, at Royal Birkdale.
(Peter Morrison / Associated Press) 2/38
Branden Grace after completing the 18th hole in the third round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Birkdale on July 22. Grace shot a 62.
(Andy Rain / EPA) 3/38
Brooks Koepka plays out of a bunker on the 7th green during the third round of the British Open Golf Championship, at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
(Alastair Grant / AP) 4/38
Rory McIlroy reacts to a missed putt during the third round of the British Open Golf Championship, at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
(Dave Thompson / Associated Press) 5/38
Matt Kuchar misses a birdie putt on the 18th during the third round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
(Gerry Penny / EPA) 6/38
Matt Kuchar is mobbed by fans as he makes his way to the next hole during the third round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
(Andy Rain / EPA) 7/38
Jordan Spieth of the United States smiles in the rain during the third round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
(Gregory Shamus / Getty Images) 8/38
England’s Ian Poulter looks on from the 14th tee box during the third round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
(Dave Thompson / Associated Press) 9/38
Jordan Spieth plays out of a bunker on the 17th hole during the third round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
(Peter Morrison / Associated Press) 10/38
Gary Woodland takes a shot out of the rough on the 10th hole during the third round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
(Stuart Franklin / Getty Images) 11/38
Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar walk to the 14th green during the third round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
(Gregory Shamus / Getty Images) 12/38
Brooks Koepka plays out of a bunker on the 7th green during the third round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale on July 22.
(Alastair Grant / Associated Press) 13/38
China’s Li Haotong fails to get out of a bunker on the 12th hole during his second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Oli Scarff / AFP/Getty Images) 14/38
Matt Kuchar hits his second shot on the 3rd hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Christian Petersen / Getty Images) 15/38
Rules officials help remove a signpost to allow Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland to play on the 15th hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Dan Mullan / Getty Images) 16/38
Dustin Johnson plays from the rough on the 8th hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Dan Mullan / Getty Images) 17/38
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland chips onto the green during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Gerry Penny / EPA) 18/38
Spectators watch play on the 10th green as conditions deteriorate during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Oli Scarff / AFP/Getty Images) 19/38
Australia’s Jason Day, left, and Zach Johnson on the 2nd green during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Andy Buchanan / AFP/Getty Images) 20/38
South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel looks for his ball in the rough on the 5th hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Peter Morrison / Associated Press) 21/38
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks off the 14th tee during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Dan Mullan / Getty Images) 22/38
Haotong Li of China hits a bunker shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Christian Petersen / Getty Images) 23/38
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland chips onto the 11th green during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Dan Mullan / Getty Images) 24/38
Rickie Fowler hits his tee shot on the 9th hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Christian Petersen / Getty Images) 25/38
Dustin Johnson hits his tee shot on the 5th hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Stuart Franklin / Getty Images) 26/38
Sergio Garcia of Spain walks on the 1st hole during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Stuart Franklin / Getty Images) 27/38
Joost Luiten of the Netherlands falls back into a bunker after missing a putt on the 8th green during the second round of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
(Alastair Grant / Associated Press) 28/38
Padraig Harrington of Ireland acknowledges the crowd on the 18th hole during the first round of the 146th British Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on Thursday.
(Dan Mullan / Getty Images) 29/38
Si Woo Kim of Korea putts on the 12th hole during the first round of the championship at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.
(Stuart Franklin / Getty Images) 30/38
Jordan Spieth hits a bunker shot on the 15th hole at Royal Birkdale.
(Stuart Franklin / Getty Images) 31/38
Matthew Fitzpatrick of England lines up his putt on the 18th green on Thursday.
(Dan Mullan / Getty Images) 32/38
Brooks Koepka of the U.S. holes his third shot from the bunker on the 17th hole.
(Stuart Franklin / Getty Images) 33/38
Jordan Spieth reacts after his approach from the rough on the 5th hole during the first round.
(Stuart Franklin / Getty Images) 34/38
Tommy Fleetwood of England plays from a bunker on Thursday.
(Dan Mullan / Getty Images) 35/38
Ian Poulter of England plays his third shot on the 17th hole.
(Andrew Redington / Getty Images) 36/38
France’s Alexander Levy plays his approach shot from the 3rd fairway.
(Andy Buchanan / AFP/Getty Images) 37/38
Spectators get a view of the 9th hole at Royal Birkdale.
(Ben Stansall / AFP/Getty Images) 38/38
David Horsey of England hits his second shot on the 2nd hole during the first round of the British Open.
(Christian Petersen / Getty Images) sam.farmer@latimes.com
Twitter: @LATimesfarmer
