“Overcome, and you’ll conquer” is what best suits the golfing journey of Chris Kirk. The 39-year-old PGA Tour pro, on May 7, 2019, took to his social media handle and announced that he would be taking his leave from the Tour so that he could seek treatment for his alcoholism, which further led to depression.

At that time, Chris Kirk wrote, “Tomorrow I will celebrate my 34th birthday, but I have already begun a new and better chapter in my life. Thank you to my friends and family for being there for me.” The break he was planning to take was an indefinite one, as he had not provided any tenure for his comeback. All he said was that his current focus was to become the man his family deserves and embark on a new chapter in his life.

Chris Kirk becomes the recipient of the Courage Award

He returned to the American Tour after more than six months and regained his exempt status in 2021 through a major medical extension. Upon his return, he bagged his first PGA Tour title at the 2023 Honda Classic. He also received the PGA Tour Courage Award that year for overcoming exceptional adversity and making a significant impact in the golf world.

Being a golfer can sometimes really get difficult, and Chris Kirk knows that well enough. The season before his break, he missed 11 cuts out of the 17 tournaments that he participated in. His best finish was a T-15 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. When things like that happen, it is not just people who mock you, but going back to your hotel room after the tournament starts feeling lonely. That is where depression kicks in.

Upon receiving the award at the Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, he had clearly stated that if it meant going through that feeling once again, he had no intentions of coming back. “I had all those bad memories of sitting by myself in a hotel room. I just said I’m not willing to do that anymore. If that’s what I have to do to come back to the TOUR, then I’m not going to do it,” said the 6X PGA Tour winner.

Given his performance this season, there is no doubt that Chris Kirk’s recovery journey has been a successful one. “I have dealt with alcohol abuse and depression for some time now. I thought I could control it, but after multiple relapses, I have come to realize that I can’t fix this on my own,” was what he said when he realized he needed help. Going to rehab and being surrounded by people he loved was what helped him through and through.

While Kirk managed to get out of his addiction, he might as well consider himself lucky, because not everyone gets out of the dark and shines bright again.

Grayson Murray’s tragic and untimely demise

Grayson Murray withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge this year after the first round citing illness. A day later, news spread about Murray’s untimely death. His parents later revealed that the golfer had committed suicide. The 2x PGA Tour winner had battled with alcoholism and depression, and he was very open about his struggle. In January, after winning in Hawaii, he opened up about how his parents have been helping him.

“Yeah, my parents have been through, you know, hell and back basically for the last six years with me fighting some mental stuff. It’s not easy on me, and the people around me that love me, they don’t like to see me down. They’ve been my No. 1 supporters. There’s a few friends as well that have been there and it makes these moments a lot more special.” His demise left the entire golf world shaken, and fans fellow players, and tourmates shared heartfelt tributes for him.

Always be careful with yourself, and if anything ever starts to bother you, seek help! Always remember: You are not alone. What do you think of Chris Kirk’s journey? Does it motivate you to be a better version of yourself?