Former Bulldog golfer Chris Kirk captures Deutsche Bank Championship
Former Bulldog golfer Chris Kirk captured the biggest win of his career Monday in the Deutsche Bank Championship. Kirk’s FedExCup ranking is number one and his official world ranking is number 25. Whether that is enough for U.S. captain Tom Watson to add Kirk to the Ryder Cup team appears of little concern.
Chris Kirk spoke to Georgiadogs.com.
"I certainly don’t feel entitled, or feel like I’m a shoe-in to get a pick. I’ve obviously really put myself into consideration, and it’s something that I would love to do. But like I’ve said before, the nine guys that made it are automatic. Those are the guys on the team. The other three? If you get in, it’s a bonus. Winning the Deutsche Bank and going to No. 1 in the FedEx Cup, and $1.4 million, that’s plenty for me for one day."
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Kirk, a Georgia graduate and Bulldog letterman golfer from 2002 – 2007, won for the third time in his career, though never against a field this strong, and never with this much riding.
Prior to the Deutsche Bank Championship, Kirk was No. 14 in the Ryder Cup standings, five spots away from being an automatic qualifier. This victory could go a long way toward Watson using one of his three selections on the 29-year-old from Georgia. Watson announces his selections Tuesday evening in New York.
Although Kirk plans to attend the Georgia-Tennessee game the weekend of the Ryder Cup, he would break that date for a trip to Scotland for golf’s version of the Super Bowl.
“I would absolutely love to [play for the Ryder Cup], but I’m not going to really base how happy I am with how I’m playing, or how my year has gone, on whether I make the team or not,” Kirk told Georgiadogs.com.
Ten shots behind after the Deutsche Bank opening round, Kirk was so disgusted that he skipped his usual practice session. He was flawless the rest of the week, particularly on Monday in another wild Labor Day finish at the TPC Boston.
Kirk made three big putts on the back nine – a 25-foot birdie putt on hole 13, a par saving 15-foot putt on hole 15 to maintain his lead, and a birdie putt from just over 12 feet that gave him a two-shot lead on hole 16.
Kirk finished at 15-under 269 to boost his season earnings above 4.4 million dollars.