Monday, January 8th, 2024 Edition
Chris Kirk holds off Spieth, Theegala for 2024’s first PGA Tour title at the Sentry
– by Jack Hirsh / GOLF
Per Jack: “Everything was going right for Chris Kirk.
Last year’s Honda Classic winner was making birdie after birdie at Kapalua’s Plantation course, extending the one-shot lead he began the day out to two and even three…”
B&B POV: Two things are absolute with the PGA TOUR kicking off this past week in Maui // 1. The tour and fans will greatly miss Jon Rahm who defected to LIV, even more so than the other superstars now playing on the rival circuit 2. No one on tour (heck, in all of professional golf) swings as smoothly as this year’s Sentry champion, Chris Kirk. So syrupy. Almost flaccid. But in a good way.
Kirk finished up 29-under over four days. That’s taking it deep. Sahith kicked off his year with a 2nd, and Spieth finished 3rd. Fifty-nine players competed in the first Signature event of the year, all making good $$$. Congrats to good-guy Kirk for winning his 6th PGA TOUR event and lifting the Big-A Trophy after blitzing Kapalua.
Tiger and Nike No More
– Chris Lohman / Balls & Bogeys
Per Chris: This is big news in golf, but not a shocker to anyone who has been reading the tea leaves over the past couple of months. Tiger has been Nike’s biggest endorser for 27 years, which is one heck of a run. In addition to Tiger and Nike breaking up, Jason Day recently moved on from Nike, partnering up with Malbon, one of the coolest/drippiest brands making inroads into golf…
PAYDAY! 2024 The Sentry Prize Money Payout
– Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: Kirk pocketed $3.6M out of the $20M purse. That’s a lot of cheese and 2x more than what he’s pocketed for any of his previous five tour wins. In total three players (Kirk, Sahith and Spieth) earned more than $1,000,000, with a 4th, Ben An, flying home with just under seven figures in his duffel bag…
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WITB Winner’s Bag: Chris Kirk at the 2024 The Sentry
– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: When Chris Kirk made his par putt on 18 yesterday on The Plantation Course at Kapalua, he closed out a week (four days of competition) having made 29 birdies and only a single bogey. Let that sink in. He just won a Signature PGA TOUR event with a 40% birdie rate over 72 holes. We’re firm believers that he really likes and feels comfortable with his gear set-up…
‘I’ve accepted reality:’ Rory McIlroy opens up on LIV Golf, Saudi investment and his role in the negotiations
– by Adam Woodard / Golfweek
Per Adam: “Rory McIlroy is a diehard soccer fan who supports Manchester United, which made the four-time major winner a fitting guest for The Overlap’s “Stick to Football” show that features former United stars Roy Keane and Gary Neville as well as fellow greats Ian Wright and Jamie Carragher…”
B&B POV: Based on recent comments made on a British football (the kind of football played with the round ball) show, Rory McIlroy, one of professional golf’s biggest stars and LIV’s strongest adversaries, has admitted he has mostly thrown in the towel and wants to see a true PGA TOUR/PIF partnership come to fruition, reuniting the best players in the world for competitions, and actually doing something good for golf as a result. B&B has ardently been saying now for the past six months or so we’re over the feud and want the reunion of golf stars to kick in as soon as possible. And like a long, sweaty night after a hearty and overly spicy Mexican dinner, we look forward to the moment we never have to experience or hear about LIV again.
FEATURED CURATED LESSON
‘Rory’s Favorite Swing Thought’
Rory wants you to keep your backswing simple so you too can hit 350 yard rippers…
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