Golf: Kirk edges Cole in play-off for Honda Classic victory
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Chris Kirk playing his shot from the second tee during the final round of the Honda Classic golf tournament.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MIAMI – Chris Kirk made a long-awaited and emotional return to the winner’s circle by beating Eric Cole in a play-off at the Honda Classic on Sunday at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
After Kirk bogeyed the par-five 18th hole to necessitate the play-off, he and Cole returned to play the hole again. This time, Kirk stuck his third shot to 16 inches for what proved to be the winning birdie tap.
Kirk entered the day with a two-stroke lead and shot a one-under 69 while Cole, playing with him in the final group, caught him with a 67. At 14-under 266, the duo finished two better than third-placed Tyler Duncan, who shot a final-round 66.
Kirk, 37, won for the fifth time on the PGA Tour and the first time since taking a break from the tour to treat alcoholism and depression in 2019. His most recent win was at The Colonial in 2015.
“I just have so much to be thankful for,” Kirk said on the NBC broadcast.
“I’m so grateful for my sobriety. I’m so grateful for my family. I’m so grateful for everyone that supported me throughout the past three or four years, especially.”
Kirk arrived at his 72nd hole with a one-shot lead over Cole. He took aim at the green on his second shot, but it bounced off a decorative brick on the edge of the green complex before landing in the water. He had to take a drop, opening the door for Cole to potentially win with a birdie. But after overshooting the green on his second shot, his third shot rolled past the hole and did not stay on the green.
Cole went on to save par and Kirk missed his par putt, leading to the play-off. Kirk’s drive found the rough, forcing him to lay up on his second shot.
Cole’s second shot landed in a bunker behind the green and Kirk’s third wowed the crowd as it threatened to spin into the cup.
“When I missed the fairway on 18, I would have liked to have piped one down the middle, but I almost liked my chances better with a wedge into that pin than some of those shots from left or – everybody saw how difficult Eric’s bunker shot was,” Kirk said.
“I liked the position I was in there, and then to be able to hit that great of a wedge shot under those circumstances felt amazing.”
Cole had a longer birdie putt that could have forced a second play-off hole, and it lipped out.
“I played three really good days of good ball-striking and then today, especially on the front nine. My ball-striking wasn’t where it needed to be... I played as hard as I could,” he said. REUTERS
