Chris Kirk of the USA secured the biggest victory of his career in winning the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston. He has moved to the top of the FedEx Cup standings.
Chris Kirk of the USA secured the biggest victory of his career in winning the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston. He has moved to the top of the FedEx Cup standings.
Kirk began the final round two strokes behind Russell Henley, but he played an excellent final round of 66 to overhaul the leader. Kirk went to the front for the first time on the 13th when he holed a long birdie putt, and he maintained his advantage with crucial par saves at the next two holes.
He extended his lead with a birdie at the 16th but, when he missed a makeable birdie putt on the home hole he left the door open for Billy Horschel. Kirk's fellow American had a good chance of making the par-5 final green in two shots.
Horschel needed a birdie to tie Kirk and an eagle to overtake him. He had just a six-iron in, but he caught the shot fat and it found the hazard. In the end Horschel finished with a bogey to end the week in a tie for second.
“The worst swing I’ve made all week,” said Horschel of his shot on the last.
For Kirk it was a third PGA Tour victory, but this was the most significant. Not only has it propelled him to the top of the FedEx Cup standings but it has also greatly increased his chances of earning a captain’s pick for the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
"I definitely put myself in contention for one," Kirk said. "If I get picked great. If not, I'm still happy with my win today."
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy couldn’t find his best form through the last round and he closed with a 70 to finish tied fifth. He remains in second place in the FedEx Cup.
The tournament’s big mover in FedEx Cup terms was Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy. He was the 100th, and last, qualifier for this event and needed a good finish to play his way into the top-70 and so qualify for the BMW Championship.
He produced a closing 65 to finish the tournament in tied second place and leap to 24th on the standings.
Deutsche Bank Championship TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts Aug 29 - Sep 1, purse $8,000,000, par 71
1 Chris Kirk (USA) 73 66 64 66 269 $1,440,000 T2 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 70 71 65 65 271 $597,333 T2 Russell Henley (USA) 70 66 65 70 271 $597,333 T2 Billy Horschel (USA) 69 66 67 69 271 $597,333 T5 Rory McIlroy (NIR) 70 69 64 70 273 $304,000 T5 John Senden (Aus) 69 71 67 66 273 $304,000 T7 Jason Day (Aus) 66 68 69 71 274 $258,000 T7 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 71 66 70 67 274 $258,000 T9 Bill Haas (USA) 67 69 70 69 275 $185,143 T9 Chesson Hadley (USA) 66 73 67 69 275 $185,143 T9 Carl Pettersson (Swe) 67 73 69 66 275 $185,143 T9 Robert Streb (USA) 73 67 67 68 275 $185,143 T9 Jimmy Walker (USA) 70 70 68 67 275 $185,143 T9 Seung-Yul Noh (Kor) 69 68 68 70 275 $185,143 T9 Webb Simpson (USA) 66 70 68 71 275 $185,143
Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage
