PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Chris Kirk waited almost eight years to win a PGA Tour occasion once more. Ready another gap on Sunday was no drawback.
Kirk caught his method to the par-5 18th to tap-in vary, and his birdie on the primary gap of a playoff lifted him previous Eric Cole for the victory on the Honda Basic on Sunday.
Cole had an opportunity, taking part in his third shot from the sand to simply exterior of 10 ft for a birdie that might have prolonged the playoff. Nevertheless it lipped out, and Kirk nudged his ball in for his fifth profession win — his first since prevailing at Colonial in 2015.
“I used to be clearly very, very nervous at this time having not received in so lengthy,” Kirk mentioned. “Coming down the stretch, I felt good.”
And he’ll be the final Honda winner. The automotive firm is ending its title sponsorship of the occasion after 42 years, with a brand new sponsor set to be in place — the PGA Tour hopes, anyway — within the coming weeks.
They completed 72 holes tied at 14-under 266, Kirk taking pictures 69 on Sunday, Cole taking pictures 67.
Kirk earned $1,512,000 for the win, and is now eligible to play the Masters once more for the primary time since 2016. Cole earned $915,600 for the runner-up end, a examine that greater than doubles what the 34-year-old has earned in 14 earlier tour begins.
“I liked it. It was a whole lot of enjoyable,” Cole mentioned. “I can not wait to get again and do it once more. I did not have my greatest stuff at this time, and I used to be pleased with how onerous I fought.”
Kirk went to the par-5 18th with a one-shot lead. His tee shot discovered the golf green. His second shot discovered the water, resulting in bogey. Cole made par, giving Kirk new life within the playoff.
“Dangerous swing on the flawed time. … Thank God it labored out,” Kirk mentioned.
Kirk hadn’t held a trophy since 2015. That is to not say he hasn’t achieved any successful in that span.
He walked away from the sport in Could 2019 due to alcoholism and despair. He handled nervousness and struggled with dealing with strain, despite the fact that he had a penchant for making it look like no large deal on the golf course — he was a four-time winner, plus made a giant putt to assist the U.S. win the Presidents Cup at South Korea in 2015.
The tour gave him a significant medical extension for the time he missed, that means he had a set variety of tournaments to do properly sufficient to regain his full standing. He acquired it again by the slimmest of margins on the Sony Open in 2021.
And now he is a champion once more.
“I simply have a lot to be grateful for,” Kirk mentioned. “I am so grateful for my sobriety, I am so grateful for my household, I am so grateful for everybody that has supported all through the previous three or 4 years.”
Tyler Duncan, ranked No. 360 on this planet coming into the week, shot 66 on Sunday and was third at 12 beneath. Monday qualifier Ryan Gerard, taking part in the weekend for the primary time on the PGA Tour, shot 67 and completed fourth at 10 beneath.
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Gerard’s profession earnings on tour went from $0 to $411,600. His plans for the following few weeks may be altering primarily based on this end.
“I’ve acquired to go guide some flights and lodge rooms, swipe the bank card,” mentioned Gerard, who got here into the week ranked 472nd on this planet. “We’ll see what occurs.”
Defending champion Sepp Straka (68) was in a bunch tied for ninth at 9 beneath, with all 4 of his rounds within the 60’s. Additionally in that group: Shane Lowry, who had an opportunity to win the Honda final yr and completed with an even-par 70.
“I performed pretty, and I simply could not get it going,” Lowry mentioned.
