Kirk captures Honda Classic in playoff
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Chris Kirk waited nearly eight years to win a PGA Tour event again. Waiting one more hole on Sunday was no problem.
Kirk stuck his approach to the par-5 18th to tap-in range, and his birdie on the first hole of a playoff lifted him past Eric Cole for the victory at the Honda Classic.
Cole had a chance, playing his third shot from the sand to just outside of 10 feet for a birdie that would have extended the playoff. But it lipped out, and Kirk nudged his ball in for his fifth career win — his first since prevailing at Colonial in 2015.
“I was obviously very, very nervous today having not won in so long,” Kirk said. “Coming down the stretch, I felt good.”
And he’ll be the last Honda winner. The car company is ending its title sponsorship of the event after 42 years, with a new sponsor set to be in place — the PGA Tour hopes, anyway — in the coming weeks.
They finished 72 holes tied at 14-under 266, Kirk shooting 69 on Sunday, Cole shooting 67.
Kirk earned $1,512,000 for the win, and is now eligible to play the Masters again for the first time since 2016. Cole earned $915,600 for the runner-up finish, a check that more than doubles what the 34-year-old has earned in 14 previous tour starts.
Tyler Duncan, ranked No. 360 in the world coming into the week, shot 66 on Sunday and was third at 12 under. Monday qualifier Ryan Gerard, playing the weekend for the first time on the PGA Tour, shot 67 and finished fourth at 10 under.
Vu takes Thailand for first career title
American Lilia Vu rode a hot putter to claim her maiden LPGA crown with a one-shot victory over home favorite Natthakritta Vongtaveelap at the LPGA Thailand at Pattaya, Thailand, on Sunday.
Trailing the local rookie by six strokes at the start of the day, 25-year-old Vu unleashed eight impressive birdies, including five straight from the eighth hole to end her campaign with an immaculate round of 8-under 64 for a 22under 266 total at Siam Country Club Old Course.
“Yesterday my dad told me that just one good round and I could win. That’s all I kept thinking about. Basically today I just blacked out and tried to birdie every single hole I could,” said Vu, whose maiden tour victory came after three third-place finishes in 2022.
The UCLA alumni came up short again at the Ladies European Tour in Saudi Arabia last week where she settled for another third place.
“I knew I was going to win, it was just when... and I finally did,” she added.
Vu became the third American to triumph in the event after Lexi Thompson in 2016 and Jessica Korda in 2018.
Playing her first LPGA tournament, Vongtaveelap’s lack of experience took a toll with the 20-year-old golfer enduring a mixed final round featuring seven birdies offset by a double bogey and four bogeys for a 1-under 71 and and 267 overall.
Another Thai golfer, Atthaya Thitikul, was third after a final-round 68 got her to 268. Maja Stark of Sweden and Celine Boutier of France tied for fourth at 271, one ahead of top-ranked Lydia Ko.
Howell shoots 63 in LIV Mexico victory
Charles Howell III finally made winning feel easy Sunday at Mayakoba when his putter came to life for an 8under 63 to win the LIV Golf Invitational at Playa del Carmen, Mexico, by four shots for his first title in the Saudifunded series.
Howell had seven birdies through 10 holes to take control at El Camaleon, and then got some help when Peter Uihlein had to hit three tee shots on the 12th hole in a triple bogey that removed any drama from the final round.
Howell won in his sixth start in LIV Golf and picked up $4 million, with an additional $1 million for leading his Crushers to a nine-shot victory. Uihlein had a 68 to take second. Branden Grace shot 67 for third.
Siem surges to win at Hero Indian Open
Marcel Siem ended his long wait for a fifth European tour title with a victory at the Hero Indian Open at New Delhi by a single shot.
The German’s last win on the tour came eight years and 116 days ago at the 2014 BMW Masters but a closing 68 saw him edge out Yannik Paul with a 14-under 274. The 42-year-old went into the final round one shot behind leader Paul.
“This means a lot because two years ago I wasn’t even sure if I could still compete,” Siem said.
Paul finished second at 13 under, with Joost Luiten another shot back in third.