Chris Kirk’s emotional victory at the Honda Classic on the 18th hole, following a sudden-death playoff, marked his first tournament win in 2,836 days, and also his first win as a sober man.
The 37-year-old golfer shared how grateful he was for his life experiences and the people who have helped him, including his wife, during his recovery from alcoholism and depression. Kirk followed up his win with a solid opening round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, finishing two shots behind Jon Rahm with a 5-under-par 67.
Kirk is known for his unassuming personality, both on and off the course. In May 2019, he announced that he would take an indefinite leave from golf to address his alcohol abuse and depression. Ranked 188th at the time, he wasn’t sure if he would return. Kirk’s recovery, both from his alcoholism and returning to golf, was slow and steady.
Kirk’s return to the PGA Tour began at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in November 2019, with his world ranking at 303. Since then, he has been deliberate in avoiding the triggers that led him to drink during tournament weeks, such as staying alone in hotel rooms. Instead, he rents a house near each tournament site with some of his closest friends on tour.
Kirk’s victory at the Honda Classic marked a significant milestone in his journey of recovery, and he credits his supportive friends and his one-day-at-a-time approach for helping him maintain sobriety and achieve success on the course.
»Chris Kirk shares how grateful he was for his life experiences«
↯↯↯Read More On The Topic On TDPel Media ↯↯↯