USA Today via Reuters
January 7, 2024; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Chris Kirk hits his tee shot on the third hole during the final round of The Sentry golf tournament at Kapalua Golf – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
January 7, 2024; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Chris Kirk hits his tee shot on the third hole during the final round of The Sentry golf tournament at Kapalua Golf – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Kirk’s comeback story is one of the most inspiring in the sport. The 38-year-old American battled with alcoholism and depression. He took a leave of absence from the PGA Tour and fought his way back to the top level of the game.
On January 7, the golfer won his sixth PGA Tour title at the Sentry in Hawaii and earned a whopping $3.6 million. He birdied the 15th and 17th holes to polish off an 8-under 65 in the last round and kicked off the 2024 season in style. However, despite his win, he was on the receiving end of a harsh OWGR reality check.
Chris Kirk’s OWGR rank should probably have been better
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With the 2024 Sentry win, the six-time PGA Tour winner moved from 52nd to 25th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). His jump in the world ranking is truly nothing short of magnificent! But there is a catch. The golfer’s ranking should have been lower (in a good way)!
According to a new rule that was introduced by the OWGR board on December 20, 2023, any player who wins more than one in a 52-week ranking window will be rewarded with a 70% point bonus for each subsequent win. Kirk had won the Honda Classic in March 2023, his first victory after a five-year hiatus.
So, his Sentry victory should have earned him an extra four points, which would have boosted his ranking to 21st. However, the OWGR website does not reflect this bonus, and Kirk’s profile on the OWGR website shows that he had only gained about 60 points for his win.
Something doesn't add up there for Chris Kirk @OWGRltd… Those extra 4 points don't seem to be added to his total and his new average points. The ~60p for the win move him to #25, but the extra 4 bonus points should get him to #21. Am I missing something…? #OWGR #TheSentry pic.twitter.com/YgVhOO7HXl
— Nosferatu (@VC606) January 8, 2024
Along with the 52-week streak win alteration, the OWGR also announced that the winner of limited-field events would also get 3-4% extra points as compared to previous limited-field events. If the reports are to be believed, there sure has been a hiccup in Kirk’s OWGR rank!
As of now, there has been no official response from the OWGR board or the PGA Tour. It is unclear whether this was a technical glitch, an oversight, or a deliberate decision. Kirk himself has also not commented on the issue. Despite this alleged OWGR snub, Kirk’s first win of 2024 was extra special!
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What made Chris Kirk’s 2024 Sentry win more rewarding?
Other than bagging a hefty share of the $20 million purse, the PGA Tour pro also earned massive respect this week in the golf fraternity. This Hawaiian win marked Kirk’s second win in the last 21 starts. Notably, before this and his 2023 Honda Classic win, the golfer had zero wins in the previous 178 starts. By finishing in first place, the golfer also got his first top-10 finish since April 2023.
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Whatever the case may be, Kirk needs to be recognized for his achievements and rewarded accordingly. He has overcome tremendous challenges and shown great resilience and courage. With his victory, he was also able to prove that he is resilient and his ranking should reflect that.
Hopefully, the OWGR board will rectify this situation soon and give Kirk the points he has learned. What are your thoughts on this? Do let us know in the comments below!
