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. Kirk made just one bogey the entire week to claim $3.6 million of the $20 million purse at the first signature event of 2024.
Theegala rang up 10 birdies and eight pars for a 63 on Sunday but had to settle for second.
No. 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.
Jordan Spieth (65 on Sunday) got in the mix before finishing in third at 27 under. 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.
–Field Level Media