Unlikely Kirk rockets to top spot in Detroit
DETROIT — Webb Simpson and Bryson DeChambeau were expected to be contenders at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, taking advantage of a relatively weak field and course by PGA Tour standards.
Chris Kirk was not.
A year after taking a leave of absence from the PGA Tour to address alcohol abuse and depression, though, he has turned around his life and revived his career.
Kirk had a 7-under 65 on Friday to take the second-round lead at the Detroit Golf Club, and Simpson later shot a 64 to pull into a tie atop the leaderboard at 12-under 132.
“I was out there thinking about him a little bit, just with his decision to take some time away from golf and take care of himself,” Simpson recalled. “I'm so proud of what he's been able to do and come back and make the comeback he's made, winning on the Korn Ferry Tour. And, now he's out here trying to win a PGA Tour event.”
Kirk won a Korn Ferry Tour' event two weeks ago, using the PGA Tour's developmental circuit as a springboard to compete again with the world's best players.
The 35-year-old Kirk has won four times on the PGA Tour, most recently in 2015.
Simpson won the RBC Heritage two weeks ago in South Carolina, finishing at a tournamentrecord 22-under for his second win of the season and seventh of his career.
He withdrew from the Connecticut event last week because one of his daughters appeared to have COVID-19, but she later tested negative.
Simpson and DeChambeau chose to come to the Motor City while many of the PGA Tour's top players skipped the tournament.
NASCAR CHAMP JOHNSON TESTS POSITIVE
Jimmie Johnson, the seventime NASCAR champion, has tested positive for coronavirus.
The 44-year-old Johnson got the news Friday afternoon, according to a press release from Hendrick Motorsports. Johnson will sit out Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“My first priority is the health and safety of my loved ones and my teammates,” Johnson said in the release. “I know it's going to be very hard to watch from the sidelines when I'm supposed to be out there competing.”
Johnson is experiencing no COVID-19 symptoms, according to the release. His wife Chandra, however, tested positive earlier Friday after experiencing symptoms.
One member of Johnson's team has been asked to selfquarantine because of potential exposure to the virus.
NASCAR was one of the first American sports to return, with drivers racing in the Real Heroes 400 on May 17 in South Carolina. Most recently, Johnson finished 16th at the Pocono 350 on Tuesday. Joseph Wilkinson
PACERS’ OLADIPO TO SKIP BUBBLE
The Indiana Pacers will finish this season without Victor Oladipo after the two-time All-Star decided to sit out because of the risk of re-injuring his right knee.
Earlier this week, Oladipo told reporters he was still debating whether to join his teammates in Orlando.
“We totally respect and understand Victor's decision to not play in the restart of the NBA's season,” Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said Friday in a statement. “The first priority for our players is, and always will be, their health, whether that be physical or mental health. Victor has looked great in workouts, but the timing of the restart and lack of 5-on-5 activity makes it difficult to for him to commit to playing at the high level he expects with regards to further injury.”
On Wednesday, coach Nate McMillan said he anticipated having Oladipo in the NBA's “bubble,” working out with his teammates and a final decision would be made at a later date.
After spending almost a full year rehabbing his right quadriceps tendon, the guard returned to the court Jan. 29.
Oladipo played in 13 games before the season was suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. He was averaging 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 39.1%.