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Here’s the prize money payout for each golfer at the 2023 Honda Classic

Golf Digest Middle East — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 00:15:46 +0000

Designated? No. Dramatic. No doubt.

Sunday’s final round of the Honda Classic started with an ‘eclectic’ leaderboard at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, before turning into a one-on-one showdown between veteran Chris Kirk, a four-time PGA Tour winner whose last victory came in 2015, and rookie Eric Cole, playing in just his 15th career tour event.

In the end, experience ruled the day, Kirk, 37, winning in a playoff with a birdie on the par-5 18th after making a bogey there 15 minutes earlier. Kirk finished with a closing one-under 69 for a 14-under 266 to grab his first win since the 2015 Crown Plaza Invitational at Colonial, some 179 starts earlier.

Cole, the 34-year-old son of PGA Tour winner Bobby Cole and LPGA Tour pro Laura Baugh, lipped out on a 15-foot birdie putt that would have extended the playoff to a second hole. While disappointed that his closing 67 wasn’t enough to win, the runner-up finish was far and away his best career showing.

The overall purse at PGA National is $8.4 million with Kirk earning $1.512 million (Cole took home $915,600, not bad when you consider his biggest pay day to date on tour had been $146,250 for a T-15 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am).

Here are the top prize money payouts this weekend at the Champion Course.

Win: Chris Kirk, -14, $1,512,000
P-2: Eric Cole, -14, $915,600
3: Tyler Duncan, -12, $579,600
4: Ryan Gerard, -10, $411,600
T-5: Ben Martin, -9, $288,120
T-5: Sepp Straka, -9, $288,120
T-5: Justin Suh, -9, $288,120
T-5: Shane Lowry, -9, $288,120
T-5: Ben Taylor, -9, $288,120
T-10: Dylan Wu, -8, $220,500
T-10: David Lingmerth, -8, $220,500
T-12: Zach Johnson, -7, $186,900
T-12: Cameron Percy, -7, $186,900
T-14: Brandon Wu, -6, $136,500
T-14: Jim Herman, -6, $136,500
T-14: Stephen Jaeger, -6, $136,500
T-14: Lee Hodges, -6, $136,500
T-14: Adrian Meronk, -6, $136,500
T-14: Ryan Brehm, -6, $136,500
T-14: Kramer Hickok, -6, $136,500

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How Kevin Na changed the trajectory of his career and became addicted to winning on the PGA Tour

Golf Digest Middle East — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 05:34:44 +0000

Cliff Hawkins

By Brian Wacker
HONOLULU — Kevin Na freely admits there are courses on the PGA Tour that he cannot win on. “Yes, 100 percent,” he said Sunday night in a nod to many of the big ballparks that consume the schedule and serve as a defence against the bomb-and-gouge era.

Fortunately for the 37-year-old South Korean, Waialae Country Club—a short track by today’s standards at 7,044 yards with only two par 5s, tight fairways and small greens—isn’t one of them.

“Waialae is a golf course I really have a chance at, and there’s not too many of these left anymore, so I have to take advantage of it,” he said.

That he did on Sunday, making four birdies over his final six holes—including on the 18th, where he got up and down from behind the green on the par 5—to rally for Sunday 65 and a one-stroke victory over Chris Kirk and Joaquin Niemann.

The win was the fifth of Na’s PGA Tour career. It also marks the fourth straight tour season that he has won at least once, after picking up just one victory in the first 17 years of his career.

“It’s a great feeling,” Na said after finishing at 21-under 259. “Nice to get it done early. But I’d like to win another one before the season’s over.”

This one seemed unlikely to happened not once but twice.

Injuries had forced Na to miss the Sony Open each of the last two years, and on Wednesday he pulled a muscle in his ribs warming up for the pro-am.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Na said. “My trainer that I just added to the team, Cornel Driessen, he helped me out a lot. We worked on, it loosened it, and the next day I woke up, it felt great and felt like nothing happened. Had he not been here, I don’t know, might have been a different story.”

Gregory Shamus
A Saturday 61 from Na set up the chance to win.

Then on Sunday, victory looked like it might be out of reach after Na three-putted for bogey on the 12th hole to fall to 17 under. With a tight leader board and players jockeying for the lead, there was little room for error at that point.

But Na, who carded a career-best 61 in the third round, got hot again and bounced back with birdies on each of his next three holes from 15, 10 and six feet. Then, tied with clubhouse leader Chris Kirk at 20 under, Na hit a 5-wood out of the right rough on the 18th hole that ran just through the green, leaving himself a chip to tap-in range for one more birdie.

“You know, 13 is obviously not really a birdie hole [487 yard par 4 that played the toughest all week], and I hit it in the left rough, really far back and I hit an unbelievable iron shot out of there to about 14 feet, and to make that one and bounce back from that three-putt, was what kept me in the tournament,” he said. “I knew that over the putt, I was like, man, I really need this one and I was really happy to see that one go in.

“Just kind of loosened me up a little bit, too.”

The victory was Na’s fourth in his last 55 starts and moved him to No. 23 in the world.

“I think experience is the reason why I’ve been winning,” Na said. “Experience and confidence. When you do it again, you know it seems like the next one comes easier. It’s never easy to win but the confidence that you validate in yourself really helps.”

So does being at a course like Waialae, a Seth Raynor-design that rewards precision overpower and speaks to the kind of game Na plays.

“A golf course like this, I really feel like I’ve got a chance and I’m looking, trying to contend, at least try to get a top-10 in, and if things go well, contend,” he said. “Certain golf courses, 20th place is maxing out for me.”

There are other things on his mind in 2021, mainly making his first Ryder Cup in the fall. But winning is a means to that end, and one Na would like to experience more of in the coming weeks and months.

“I think more about winning, let’s put it that way, since I’ve been winning more often because I know I can do it,” Na said. “Before, it was like, can I do it? I don’t know. Now I know if I put myself in that position, I’ve got a good chance of pulling it off.

“I used to be a really consistent player, a lot of top-10s, a lot of made cuts. Winning was still important then but winning felt a little bit distant to me. I knew I could do it; I’ve done it before. It’s been so long and I went so many years without winning that I kind of forgot that feeling.”

Suffice to say, that’s not the case any more.

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Chris Kirk wins Korn Ferry event 13 months after taking leave for alcohol and depression

Golf Digest Middle East — Sat, 20 Jun 2020 22:59:10 +0000

Ben Jared

By Daniel Rapaport
In May of 2019, Chris Kirk’s life had deteriorated to a point where he felt he needed to step away from golf, clear his head and get his issues with alcohol and depression under control.

Thirteen months later, he’s back in the winner’s circle.

Kirk got up-and-down for birdie at the par-5 18th to win the King & Bear Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour, his 25-under total good for a one-shot victory over Justin Lower in what was a week-long shootout in northeast Florida.

“It feels great to get back in the winner’s circle,” Kirk said. “It’s been a little while for me. Hoping to carry some momentum over to the next few weeks and the rest of the year.”

It’s the first victory of any kind for Kirk since May 2015, when he won the Crowne Plaza Invitaitonal at Colonial for his fourth PGA Tour win. It’s also his third win on the Korn Ferry Tour, with the first two coming back in the summer of 2010 before he became a fixture on the PGA Tour.

Kirk, 34, still has a PGA Tour card and was the first alternate for this week’s RBC Heritage. He reached as high as No. 16 in the world rankings in 2015 before struggling with his game and his personal life.

“I have dealt with alcohol abuse and depression for some time now,” he said when announcing his indefinite leave from professional golf.

“I thought I could control it, but after multiple relapses, I have come to realise that I can’t fix this on my own.”

He returned to the PGA Tour five months later at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, where he tied for 33rd. He missed his next five cuts in a row before finishing T60 at last week’s Charles Schwab Challenge.

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PGA Tour player announces leave of absence for alcohol abuse and depression day before birthday

Golf Digest Middle East — Wed, 08 May 2019 08:17:14 +0000

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

By Joel Beall
PGA Tour player Chris Kirk announced overnight that he is taking a leave of absence for alcohol abuse and depression.

“I have dealt with alcohol abuse and depression for some time now,” Kirk said in a statement. “I thought I could control it, but after multiple relapses I have come to realize that I can’t fix this on my own. I will be taking an indefinite leave from the PGA Tour to deal with these issues. I don’t know when I will be back, but for now I need my full focus on being the man my family deserves. Thank you for the support.”

The announcement cames a day before Kirk’s 34th birthday.

Tomorrow I will celebrate my 34th birthday but I have already begun a new and better chapter in my life. Thank you to my friends and family for being there for me. pic.twitter.com/XJjFYyojlh

— Chris Kirk (@Chris_Kirk_) May 7, 2019

Kirk is in the midst of a career slump. He’s 179th in the FedEx Cup standings, and ranks 140th in strokes gained. He’s missed 11 cuts in 17 starts and six of his last eight, with only one top-25 finish in these appearances, an output that’s a far cry from Kirk’s performance just a few seasons ago. Reaching as high as No. 16 in the world rankings, Kirk is a four-time winner on tour, and was a member of the 2015 United States Presidents Cup team. Kirk’s last win came four years ago at the 2015 Colonial. He has made the FedEx Cup Playoffs in the last eight consecutive seasons.

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PGA Tour rookie Austin Cook takes three-shot lead into final round of The RSM Classic

Golf Digest Middle East — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 04:38:20 +0000

ST SIMONS ISLAND, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 18: Austin Cook of the United States plays his shot on the eighth hole during the third round of The RSM Classic at Sea Island Golf Club Seaside Course on November 18, 2017 in St Simons Island, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

By Christopher Powers
After opening with rounds of 66 and 62 at Sea Island Golf Club, the only place to go was down for Austin Cook, a PGA Tour rookie making just his 14th career start at the RSM Classic. Surely, he would fade and make room for a few PGA Tour champions like Kevin Kisner and Chris Kirk to mount a charge on moving day.

Cook immediately quelled that notion on Saturday, making back-to-back birdies to open his round and extend his lead to two. From there it was smooth sailing, as he finished with a four-under 66 to get to 18-under 194, good enough for a three-shot lead heading into the final round in St. Simons Island, Ga.

The University of Arkansas alum didn’t make his third birdie until the par-5 seventh, but added another two holes later at the par 4, sticking his 185-yard approach shot to within five feet and holing the putt. He turned in four-under 31, and after a streak of four consecutive pars, Cook remarkably dropped his first shot of the week, ending his run of 44 holes without a bogey. He was able to get it back on the following hole, the par-5 15th, for his final birdie of the day.

Cook has found himself in this position thanks to some stellar iron play, hitting more than 87 percent of his greens in regulation for the week, which ranks him solo second in the field. Another precise round on Sunday could lead to Cook’s first professional victory on any tour, and anything inside the top five would give him his best career finish on the PGA Tour.

Kirk appeared to knock himself out of contention on Friday, posting an even-par 70 and falling five strokes off the pace. But the four-time tour winner made a big move on Saturday, carding a six-under 64 that featured seven birdies and a bogey. His three-round total of 15-under 197 has already eclipsed his 14-under overall total that won him the RSM Classic in 2013 for his second career victory.

“I’m just really comfortable here, I love Sea Island, I lived here for six-and-a-half years, so I’ve played the golf course a lot,” he said. It’s that local knowledge that has Kirk feeling confident about Sunday, even with windy conditions in the forecast.

“I’ve played this course in every direction and velocity of the wind possible. I bet I’ve got 300-plus rounds in on the Seaside (course). Not saying that’ll make me do any better, but I’ll know what to expect.”

If Kirk can catch Cook and win on Sunday, he’ll become the first two-time RSM Classic winner in the event’s eight-year history.

Sitting four back at 14-under 198 is Brian Gay, who shot a one-under 69 with five birdies, two bogeys and a costly double bogey at the short par-4 fifth. Gay, 45, is looking to win for the fifth time of his career on the PGA Tour.

The round of the day belonged to J.J. Spaun, who carded an eight-under 62 highlighted by a run of four straight birdies from the fifth through eighth holes. He’s in solo fourth at 13-under 199, one ahead of Kevin Kisner, who shot a five-under 65 to get into contention.

Two-time major champion Zach Johnson is also lurking at 10-under 202 thanks to a third-round six-under 64.

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Chris Kirk rides hot putter to first-round 63 and the lead at the RSM Classic

Golf Digest Middle East — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 07:51:11 +0000

LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 02: Chris Kirk hits his tee shot on the fourth hole during the first round of the Shriners Hospitals For Children Open at TPC Summerlin on November 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

By Christopher Powers
Sea Island Golf Club, host of this week’s RSM Classic, is the home course of a large group of tour pros that reside on St. Simons Island in Georgia. It’s safe to say it’s a “home game” for most of them, but no resident has taken advantage of the local knowledge in his career quite like Chris Kirk, who earned his second PGA Tour victory at the RSM Classic in 2013. The following season he finished T-4, and followed it up with a T-18 in 2016.

On Thursday it was more of the same in the Peach state for Kirk, who posted a bogey-free, nine-under 63 that featured seven birdies and an eagle at the par-5 18th on the club’s Plantation course. He leads by one over Joel Dahmen.

“I love it (here), I lived here for six-and-a-half years before we moved back to Athens to get closer to our families,” the University of Georgia alum said. “It’s two golf courses that I really enjoy playing and I know the greens really well and thankfully hit a lot of good shots out there today, and made a few putts too.”

Kirk, 32, needed just 23 putts for his 63, the second lowest round of his career. He also led the field in putts per green in regulation, averaging 1.35.

“I hit a lot of really nice putts, which was a little bit of a surprise,” he said. “It’s just nice to see them going in. That’s kind of been what I’ve struggled with the last year or so.”

His trouble on the greens explains why Kirk finished inside the top 10 just six times total in 2016 and 2017, after racking up three victories the previous two seasons, including two in 2014 when he ranked 22nd on tour in strokes gained: putting. In 2017, He ranked 125th in that same category, and hadn’t shown much improvement in his first three events of 2018, ranking 143rd.

“This was the first time in awhile where it doesn’t feel forced,” he said. “I’m just kind of looking at it, lining it up and whack it. That’s where we all aspire to be, but it’s nice to have that feeling for a change.”

Dahmen, who also opened his week on the Plantation course, carded a bogey-free eight-under 64, the low round of his career on the PGA Tour. After a rookie season that saw him make just seven of 16 cuts in 2016-2017, Dahmen is off to a respectable start this season, making two of four cuts and finishing T-23 at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba.

Three players sit at seven under, including another St. Simons Island resident and University of Georgia alum, Hudson Swafford. He’s coming off his breakthrough season on the PGA Tour, one that included his first victory last January at the CareerBuilder Challenge, four top 10s and six top 25s. Swafford is tied for third with Brian Gay and Jason Kokrak.

Back at home and fresh off his first PGA Tour victory, Patton Kizzire opened with a four-under 66 on Sea Island’s Seaside course. He sits five shots off the lead, one stroke ahead of Brian Harman, Kevin Kisner and Brandt Snedeker, who is making his first start since being sidelined with a rare rib injury last June.

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Dustin Johnson one back of Russell Henley at Glen Oaks Club

Golf Digest Middle East — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 07:11:12 +0000

WESTBURY, NY – AUGUST 24: Dustin Johnson of the United States plays his shot from the 17th tee during round one of The Northern Trust at Glen Oaks Club on August 24, 2017 in Westbury, New York. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

By Christopher Powers
Ever since Dustin Johnson’s stumble down a staircase and subsequent withdrawal from the Masters, we’ve seen glimpses of his pre-April self. Brief flashes of the guy who won three straight times, took over the No. 1 ranking in the world and did it with ease. On Thursday at The Northern Trust, D.J. made golf look easy again, posting a five-under 65 that has him just one back of leader Russell Henley.

The 2016 U.S. Open champion got off to a slow start, making bogey on the par-3 second at Glen Oaks Club, but quickly bounced back with a birdie at the par-5 third. From there, he played with steady confidence, adding five more birdies and not dropping another shot. After the round, he posed a scary though for the rest of the field.

“Today was the first time it’s kind of felt like I was in control, like I was leading into the Masters,” Johnson said of his swing.

Glen Oaks, a new PGA Tour venue hosting the first of the season’s four FedEx Cup Playoff events, sets up very well for Johnson, who is one of if not the longest hitters on tour. He averaged 323 yards off the tee in the opening round, ranking first in the field.

“It suits my eye well,” he said of the course. “If I keep hitting it like I’m hitting it, I’m going to like it a lot more come Sunday.”

Leading the way is Henley, who carded a six-under 64 with eight birdies and two bogeys. He looked comfortable around the greens, with just 24 putts on the round, and getting up and scrambling when he needed. Since his victory at the Shell Houston Open, Henley just one top-10 finish in 12 tries, but has made his last six cuts.

Two back at four under are Scott Brown, Chris Kirk and Camilo Villegas, whose round was highlighted by an eagle from 161 yards to the elevated par-4 18th green. He’s making his first appearance in the FedEx Cup Playoffs since the 2015 Deutsche Bank Championship.

Six players sit three back at three under, including Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen.

Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and Jon Rahm posted two-under 68s, while Jason Day and Jordan Spieth each carded one-under 69s.

Defending FedEx Cup champ Rory McIlroy struggled, making six bogeys and shooting a three-over 73.

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