Weekend Wrap: Kirk's Headed Back To The Masters

Sentry victory over Theegala is his sixth PGA Tour title. A record birdiefest breaks out on the Plantation course. Plus, news and notes from the week and a closer look at McIlroy's podcast interview.

We’re off and running after Chris Kirk captured The Sentry at Kapalua and secured a return trip to The Masters. The 38-year-old’s sixth PGA Tour victory included 30 birdies and just one bogey in 72 holes.

This was his first start at Kapalua since 2016. In between, Kirk took a leave of absence in May, 2019 to address personal issues with depression and alcohol abuse. Open about his struggles, Kirk regained his card via a major medical extension in 2021, then captured the Honda Classic last year and in November received the PGA Tour Courage Award. (His wife Tahnee wrote a touching piece about her husband winning the award.)

In what was formerly an event reserved for tournament winners but expanded to 59 players for 2024, Kirk held off a huge Sunday charge from Sahith Theegala (64-69-68-63-264) and a spirited effort from Jordan Spieth (66-67-67-65-265).

Also of note: Sungjae Im (T5) finished the week with 34 birdies, a new record in a 72-hole PGA Tour event. Im made 11 birdies in his 10-under final round 63.

The Sentry’s final-round scoring average of 66.66 (-6.34) was the lowest single-round average on the PGA Tour since detailed records have been kept going back to 1983. The new record easily beat the old mark of -5.72 (round three of the 2003 Bob Hope at Indian Wells CC).

But they keep telling us scoring isn’t any better with this juiced equipment that hasn’t helped the players very much and will double the cost of the game to adjust!

I digress.

Big picture-wise and, as noted here last year certain winter and early spring events typically give us a sense who will contend at Augusta National. Kapalua is one of the better indicators of Masters success given the style of golf and similarities to Augusta National (very few level stances, big drives rewarded).

Last year’s Masters champion opened with a win at Kapalua. This year he only vacationed there while dreaming up his grow the game efforts. He will next appear in Vegas to kick off the LIV season during Super Bowl week.

Also in Maui, 2023 player of the year Scottie Scheffler finished T5 thanks to another strong ballstriking effort and less-than-compelling week on Kapalua’s huge greens (46th/59 in strokes gained putting).

For those who did not watch—which is most upright Americans with the NFL’s final regular season games and major playoff implications on the line—The Sentry had a few moments. But the overall birdiefest, lack of fan energy beyond Team Theegala, and the defenseless Plantation Course turned the whole thing into a pretty ordinary affair.

Full highlights courtesy of PGA Tour Entertainment:

Elsewhere…

💪 Max Homa hit the longest recorded since the ShotLink era began in 2003: a 477-yard drive at Kapalua 7th. The hole is frequently home to big strikes when played downwind. In 2023, 89 of the 121 PGA Tour drives over 400 yards on were blasted off the 7th tee. (Schupak/Golfweek).

🙏 Gary Woodland is returning to the Sony Open four months after brain surgery. (Berhow/Golf.com)

🧐 Viktor Hovland has split with coach Joe Mayo just months after praising the role Mayo played in improving his short game in 2023. (Lewis/Golf Channel)

🏌🏼‍♂️ Despite losing Farmers as a sponsor and not yet having a renewal in place with Rocket Mortgage, Rickie Fowler insists it’s not a sign he’s defecting to LIV (Schupak/Golfweek).

🤔 In the same story, Fowler shared this regarding the work of players running the ship. “Seeing how much work the guys on the (PGA Tour) board, especially being around (Patrick) Cantlay during the off-season a little bit and leading up to this event, I’ve never seen a person be on the phone so much,” Fowler told Golfweek. “These guys are pouring a lot of time and effort into it.”

🎙️ Kevin Kisner’s debut for NBC was solid after a predictably awkward start Saturday. With a full day on air under his belt, the former PGA Tour winner seemed more comfortable Sunday and delivered moments of fresh analysis while seeming to fit in better with the rest of the announce team. Though as expected he’s a friend to all, likes to predict a forthcoming positive outcome for a putt (which would have driven Frank Chirkinian bonkers). At one point Dan Hicks jokingly chided him about the danger of making on-air predictions. His lighter tone certainly had moments capable of working in the right setting, though over the course of a season would move NBC into the LIV tone of bros celebrating bros. Whether that approach could hold up at a major where the audience is likely to be less tolerant of broey banter, will be up to executives judging NBC’s lead analyst bake-off. Kisner’s strongest moment came while watching Jordan Spieth over-read a three footer. (Piastowski/Golf.com)

📺 NBC’s broadcast featured the usual glorious shots of the islands interspersed with some pretty mediocre camerawork where is seemed as if operators were struggling to follow the ball. But they did appear to up the graphics game at times, with more details and better artwork capturing the holes in more flattering light.

🛹 Several players debuted new corporate partnerships as is typical for the season opener. No one garnered more attention than Jason Day and his skateboard culture-inspired Malbon baggy clothes after years wearing Nike’s more tailored fit. He was gloriously trolled for some particularly egregious second round pants. And his Sunday pairing with jogger-wearing Erik van Rooyen prompted this gem of a Tweet from Patrick McDonald:

🤪 That bloated ray of sunshine known as Patrick Reed—remember him?—has been ordered by a judge to reimburse defendants in his since-dismissed case against Brandel Chamblee, Gannett’s and Eamon Lynch, Associated Press’ Doug Ferguson, Golf Channel commentator’s Damon Hack and Shane Bacon and Golf Digest’s Shane Ryan. The judge found the case to be meritless and designed to stifle free speech. His attorney Larry Klayman has vowed to appeal. (Pantazi/Jacksonville Tribune)

☔️ Gordon McKee posted a Facebook photo of Hell Bunker after the Old Course received over 1000mm of rain last year (40 inches). (Pioppi/Twitter). McKie recently handed over keys to the Old Course to John Wood and is now the greenkeeping operations manager for the St Andrews Links Trust. Based on the disappearance of riveted walls on the face of Hell, it’s going to be a busy winter to get the bunkers restored for the tourist season and August’s AIG Women’s Open:

😢 Actress Cindy Morgan—a.k.a. Lacy Underall to Caddyshack fans, has passed away. Her death was from “natural causes.” She was 69. Flags at American golf courses should be lowered Monday in honor of Lacy even though she was not a huge fan of the royal and ancient game. But we’d hate the game too if we had to summer with the Smails’. Godspeed Cindy Morgan. (Schupak/Golfweek).

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