Kirk turns up the heat during first round of FESJC
PGA golfer Chris Kirk watches his tee shot on hole 18 during first round action of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
Here’s your official primer on all things Chris Kirk.
He had a 4.0 grade-point average as a high schooler in Woodstock, Georgia. He once bought himself a piano — and subsequently taught himself how to play. Additionally, he’s an avid kayaker, paddleboarder and fisherman.
And in 2020, he took an indefinite leave from the game that’s been very good to him — Kirk has six career victories — to focus on his fight with alcohol and mental health issues. As a result, he was named the recipient of the 2023 PGA Tour Courage Award.
Golf Digest calls him an easy guy to root for. His fans won’t have to look too far down the leaderboard to find his name.
Kirk, who came to Memphis ranked 28th in the Cup points standings, turned in a blistering first round on an equally-blistering first day of competition at the FedEx St. Jude Championship Thursday. Aided by a hole-in-one on No. 14, the 39-year-old got around TPC Southwind in 6-under 64.
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PGA TOUR FedEx Cup Playoffs FedEx St. Jude Championship TPC SouthwindJohn Varlas
John Varlas is a lifelong Memphian who has covered high school sports in various capacities for over 20 years.
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