Matt Kuchar WDs from Phoenix Open after dad's death

Matt Kuchar withdrew from the WM Phoenix Open on Wednesday following the death of his father.

Peter Kuchar passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday at the age of 73, his son confirmed to GolfChannel.com.

Peter Kuchar was Matt's caddie when he won the 1997 U.S. Amateur and was a regular in the PGA Tour galleries.

"My Pop was a huge fan of sport and passed on his love of competition to me," Matt Kuchar said in a statement. "He was a wonderful person -- an incredible grandfather, a loving husband and best friend to my mother, and the best father I could have ever hoped for. An avid pickleball player and outdoorsman, Pop was a man of great character and a character in his own right.

"He is the person that introduced me to the game of golf, a tie that will always remain between us. Those memories, and so many more, will be with me and our family forever. He will be missed more than words can express. We appreciate the support and privacy while we grieve as a family."

Matt Kuchar, 46, is a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour.

He was replaced in the field for this week's tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz., by Sweden's Jesper Svensson.

--Field Level Media