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Winner of the PGA Tour’s first Signature Event, Chris Kirk, aged 38, signed the best victory of his career on Sunday in Hawaii at the end of a record day.
399 birdies, 21 eagles, a record average score of 66.6, the first tournament of the season ended with a festival of pretty shots on the Kapalua course in Maui.
The one that will definitely be remembered the most Chris Kirk is this successful flag planting at the 17th more than 190 meters from the hole which gave him his 8th birdie of the day and a one-shot lead at the start of the 72nd hole.
A masterful iron shot which put an end to the hopes of Sahith Theegala to win after the Californian, leader on the evening of the first round and author of a final card of 63, missed a last opportunity by a hair at 18.
With two to play …
Chris Kirk sticks it to two feet for birdie and the lead @TheSentry. pic.twitter.com/SdvixsUVZV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 8, 2024
This first success of the season, his 6th career, allows the Georgia native to take the lead in the FedEx Cupa place he had not occupied since the end of 2014 when he started the last tournament of the season at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta in the position of leader in the general ranking of the PGA Tour.
Finally 2nd behind Billy HorschelKirk then experienced a long crossing of the desert of 8 years, linked in particular to alcohol problems, which he put an end to last year by winning at the Honda Classic.
Spieth not varnished
This first Signature Event of the new PGA Tour season also allowed Jordan Spieth to be familiar with the summits again.
Tied for the lead with 3 holes to play, the Texan was particularly unfortunate on his play on 16 (ball plugged against the lip synonymous with bogey). A twist of fate which removed him from the race for victory despite a final birdie at the 18th.
The three-time major winner has still not returned to the victory that has eluded him since April 2022, but his performance on the greens (1st in stroke gain putting) is enough to reassure his supporters.
Make it five straight 👀@JordanSpieth is just one back of the lead @TheSentry. pic.twitter.com/QkKXOtUzBb
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 7, 2024
14 coups
In addition to Chris Kirk’s victory, the performance of the last lap is to the credit of Justin Rose.
The Englishman equaled the course record on Sunday with a card of 61, 14 strokes less than the day before.
Starting from 10, the winner of the 2013 US Open took advantage of ideal conditions to score the best of the 59 cards under par recorded during the last round (100%).
To note that Ludvig Åberg also erased his poor performance in the 3rd round (77) by also playing 14 moves less on Sunday (63).
Scheffler on alternating current
Finally, let us remember from this first tournament of the season the “half fig, half reason” impression left by the world number 1 Scottie Scheffler. In the lead after 36 holes, the winner of the 2022 Masters had to settle for 5th place, 4 shots behind the Kirk.
The fault is still too irregular putting. Friday’s 26 putts did not completely succeed in making him forget his lack of confidence on the greens. This weekend Scheffler conceded 3 three-putts.
Le leaderboard
Photo © Michael Reaves / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
2024-01-08 01:35:15
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