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Chris Kirk pulls out signature win at The Sentry – ARN News Centre
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Chris Kirk birdied the 15th and 17th holes to polish off an 8-under 65 and kick off the PGA Tour season with a win at The Sentry on Sunday in Maui, Hawaii.
Kirk was the 54-hole leader at the Plantation Course at Kapalua and expanded his advantage Sunday with six birdies in his first 11 holes. After Sahith Theegala made a charge on the back nine, Kirk dialed in his second shot at the par-4 17th to 2 1/2 feet.
The ensuing birdie let him finish at 29-under 263, one stroke ahead of Theegala. Kirk made just one bogey the entire week in order to claim $3.6 million of the $20 million purse at the first signature event of 2024.
Kirk nearly hit a 7-iron at 17 before changing his mind due to shifting winds and choosing his 5-iron.
“I’m very proud, very, very proud of that shot, that I was able to make the right call and that’s — talk about a tough shot to commit to,” Kirk said. “When you’re about to pull 7 and you end up hitting 5, that doesn’t happen ever.”
Number 52 in the world ranking this week, Kirk won the Honda Classic in February 2023 to end an eight-year drought between PGA Tour victories. He took a leave of absence in 2019 to address mental health and addiction issues. Now he has his second win in 11 months.
Theegala rang up 10 birdies and eight pars for a 63 on Sunday but had to settle for second.
Jordan Spieth (65 Sunday) got in the mix before finishing in third at 27 under. He lamented misreading a 14-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th, though even that wouldn’t have been enough to catch Kirk.
“If you told me (I’d shoot) 8 under at the beginning of the day, I would have thought Chris probably betters 6 under, but playing with the lead in the last group, maybe 8 was in a playoff, was kind of where my head was at,” Spieth said. “There was just some phenomenal golf played everywhere.”
Byeong Hun An of South Korea went 5 under for his last six holes — one eagle, one bogey, four birdies — to shoot a 66 and place fourth at 26 under.
South Korea’s Sungjae Im (63) joined Scottie Scheffler (66), Collin Morikawa (65), Brian Harman (64) and J.T. Poston (65) in a tie for fifth at 25 under. Jason Day of Australia (67) and Xander Schauffele (68) finished T10 at 24 under.
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Tributes have poured in after the son of former Chelsea star Eddie Newton was found dead alongside his friend following a hike in the UAE, where temperatures soared to 50C.
Cassius Newton, 34, and his friend Aran Martinson, 33, were found by rescuers on July 18 after setting out on a hike in the mountainous Wadi Naqab region.
The pair, from Dorset and Essex respectively, both lived and worked in the UAE. Their bodies were discovered between 3km and 4km from their vehicle.
According to a report, Chelmsford area coroner Michelle Brown said their provisional causes of death included cardiac and respiratory arrest.
Cassius, a non-league footballer, was the son of former Chelsea midfielder and coach Eddie Newton, who spent more than a decade with the club.
His wife was in the UK when she became concerned after Cassius failed to contact her following the hike and reported him missing.
The two men had been living at a luxury resort in Ras Al Khaimah.
Tributes after desert tragedy
Tributes poured in after the deaths.
Aran’s wife described him as “incredibly driven, hardworking and ambitious”, saying he had recently begun a new chapter in his career and was excited about the future.
Blackfield & Langley Football Club paid tribute to their former player, saying: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the passing of former player Cassius Newton; our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
National League club Eastleigh, where Cassius had previously played, said it was “deeply saddened” by his death.
Chelsea connection
Cassius’ father Eddie Newton played for Chelsea from 1990 to 2001 and famously scored in the club’s 1997 FA Cup final victory.
The former midfielder also represented Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Oxford United and Barnet.
After retiring as a player, Newton moved into coaching, working as assistant manager at MK Dons and West Brom before returning to Chelsea.
He later served as assistant manager under Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benítez.
(With inputs from BBC, The Sun)
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