CHRIS KIRK MAKES LATE BIRDIE TO TAKE PGA TOUR SEASON OPENER

Chris Kirk finds pure joy in golf from the work that's required and how hard it is to succeed at The Sentry was plenty difficult. A dozen players were lined up behind him, all of them capable of ripping off a low one. The conditions were so placid the average score...

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Chris Kirk finds pure joy in golf from the work that's required and how hard it is to succeed at The Sentry was plenty difficult. A dozen players were lined up behind him, all of them capable of ripping off a low one. The conditions were so placid

the average score in the final round at Kapalua was 66.66, making this the lowest average score to par (6.34 under) of any round on the PGA Tour since it began keeping detailed records in 1983.

Tougher still was being tied for the lead, 209 yards away on the 17th hole with a gorge between him and the flag and a light wind that felt like it was blowing both directions. Kirk went from a 7-iron to a 5-iron and hit what he considers the best shot of his career to 2 feet for birdie that sent him to an 8-under 65 and a one-shot victory over Sahith Theegala.

“When you’re about to pull 7 and you end up hitting 5, that doesn’t happen ever. That never happens,” he said. “So to be able to commit to it like I did and make that good of a swing was an incredible feeling.”

Kirk is happy to be competing again after stepping away in 2019 for alcoholism and depression, and he capped his long journey back last year by winning the Honda Classic. This was another big step, beating a world-class field on a day when any miss was costly.