Chris Kirk secures victory in first event of calendar year
Former Georgia golfer Chris Kirk won the opening event of the 2024 calendar year on the PGA TOUR. With Sunday score of eight-under-par 65, Kirk finished one stroke ahead of Sahith Theegala to claim The Sentry championship at Kapalua.
The victory, Kirk’s sixth on tour, came as the result of eight birdies on the day. Over the course of the tournament, Kirk birdied at least six holes each day, 30 in total, and walked away with just a single bogey.
Kirk came into Sunday with a lead. It took all he had however to hold off a soaring Theegala, who shot 10-under-par in the final round. A birdie on the par four 17th was ultimately what sealed the deal for Kirk.
Kirk joins Harris English as a Bulldog golfer to win The Sentry. English was in the field this week as well, one of fifth other former Georgia players that teed it up, making up more than 10% of the total field. Fellow Bulldog Kevin Kisner was also on the call for NBC all weekend.
Kirk, who is a noted Georgia fan and represented the Bulldogs well with some National Championship apparel last year at The Players, last won in February of 2023 at The Honda Classic in a playoff over Eric Cole. That put an end to a draught of almost eight years without a win. Kirk took an indefinite leave from golf in 2019 to deal with alcohol and depression issues. He hadn’t won since that leave, and while he finished top five at the 2022 PGA Championship and had a pair of top three finishes last season prior to the win, it was easy to see just how much coming out on top meant to him afterwards.
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Kirk’s win this time around secures him a spot in The Masters this coming April as a winner on TOUR this season. He’ll also head home with a payout of $3.6 million.
RESULTS OF FORMER GEORGIA GOLFERS
Chris Kirk -29 (1)
Brian Harman -25 (T5)
Sepp Straka -23 (T12)
Harris English -22 (T14)
Brendon Todd -18 (T33)
Russell Henley -11 (T52)
Kirk’s victory is the 43rd from a former player of head coach Chris Haack. Bubba Watson leads the way with 12, but Kirk’s six is second. Other winners include English, Henlry, Kisner, Harman, Hudson Swafford, Todd, Straka, Ryuji Imada and Keith Mitchell.
