Golf - Kuchar hopes belated caddie payment preserves reputation

February 16, 2019; Pacific Palisades, CA, USA; Matt Kuchar hits from the second hole tee box during the third round of the Genesis Open golf tournament at Riviera Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

(Reuters) - Matt Kuchar said on Saturday he had been stubborn and hard-headed over the furore surrounding his $5,000 payout to a substitute caddie from his Mayakoba Classic winner's take, but hoped the incident would not ruin his reputation.

David Ortiz, a local caddie at Mayakoba filling in for Kuchar's regular bagman, had helped the American to his first PGA Tour victory in four years in Mexico in November and a winner's cheque for almost $1.3 million.