Chris Kirk had a strong round going on Thursday when he came to the par-3 14th, the most tough hole on the course. He had actually carded 5 birdies currently and sat at the top of the leaderboard early at the FedEx St. Jude Championship at 5-under-par.
His round would rapidly get much better.
Kirk took out a 6-iron and knocked in his tee shot for an ace, the ninth hole-in-one he has actually ever had, so he states. It likewise marked his 4th profession hole-in-one on the PGA Tour.
With the pin on the best side of the green, approximately 6 speeds from the water, Kirk began his right-to-left ball flight over the charge location on this challenging 205-yard par-3. His ball then drew back towards the flag, took a number of bounces, and dropped into the bottom of the cup.
“An uneasy shot for a guy who likes to work it from right to left.”
* Proceeds to 2 hop it in for an ace. *
Hell yeah, Chris Kirk. Love seeing him leave to a hot start in Memphis.
pic.twitter.com/W8MB1EL82w
— Jack Milko (@jack_milko) August 15, 2024
“The adjusted number, I believe, was 200 or 201. We had it a bit down the hill, simply a breath of breeze off the right, and 6-iron for me, which was, in this heat, it’s an ideal number,” Kirk discussed.
“I’m normally around 196 or 197 with a 6-iron. Whatever is going a number of lawns even more with the heat today. Variety. I was looking a little more left than that with water on the right, however as quickly as I struck it, I struck it simply how I wished to contact-wise, searched for, saw it began a touch right however was drawing right back to it. Yeah, great perk.”
He rapidly jumped as much as 7-under for the champion and held a considerable lead over the last couple of holes. He closed with a bogey on the par-4 18th after putting his drive into the fairway bunker, which led him to sign for a 6-under 64.
Kirk strolled off the golf course with a one-shot benefit over playing partner Taylor Pendrith and Frenchman Matthieu Pavon.
“I did the very best I could, and general actually strong day,” Kirk evaluated.
The 6-time PGA Tour winner turned in a strong efficiency in the Memphis heat, on a day when the genuine feel went beyond 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
“I’ve tended to play well in actually warm temperature levels, too. Not precisely sure why that is,” Kirk stated.
“Just remaining in the south, from Georgia, I’m simply comfy here, and a golf course that I actually like.”
Time will inform if Kirk will have the lead at the end of the day, as half the field still has yet to finish their rounds since this writing.