PGA Tour Player Falls One Shot Short Of Players Championship Record

Chris Kirk had played 41 consecutive rounds without finding the water at the 17th at TPC Sawgrass... Until his round on Saturday!

Chris Kirk strikes tee shot on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass
(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you were to look up iconic par 3s in golf, chances are the 17th at TPC Sawgrass would be high on that list. Although it measures around 120-yards, the island green surrounded by water is enough to send a shiver up the spine of any level of golfer...

Just hitting the green is an achievement in itself, unless you're six-time PGA Tour winner, Chris Kirk, who on Friday managed to hit the green on the 17th for a 41st consecutive time in tournament play. This achievement put him alongside Jason Dufner for most consecutive rounds without a water ball and, on Saturday, he had the chance to better it!

At the time, Kirk was sat at one-under for the day and seven-under for the tournament. Parring the 16th, he made the 75-yard walk to the 17th tee and, after speaking with his caddie, pulled out the club and set up over the ball. As he struck the shot, it seemed online and destined for the putting surface but, heartbreakingly, the ball came up short and, with it, the record, as Kirk tied Dufner with 41 consecutive rounds without finding the water.

What perhaps stung more for the American is that his next shot, from the tee after taking a drop, found the middle of the green safely, and Kirk went on to two-putt for a double bogey five and eventually signed for a one-over-par round of 73.

Making his debut at The Players Championship in 2011, Kirk missed the cut at the event that year, as well as in 2022 and 2023, with the American withdrawing in 2016. During the 13 year stretch, his best finish came in 2017, a tie for 12th. In all the years that the 38-year-old has played this event at TPC Sawgrass, this is the first time he has found the water at the 17th.

As mentioned, the par 3 is one of the most iconic holes in golf and has seen plenty of action over its lifetime. On Friday for example, Beau Hossler became the holder of an unwanted record at the 17th hole, with his tee shot the 1,000th to find the water on the island green. In contrast, Ryan Fox became the first player to eagle the 16th and then ace the 17th.

On Saturday, Wyndham Clark, who was engaged in an epic battle with Xander Schauffele, fatted his tee shot on the par 3, with the ball barely covering 100-yards as it found the water. To the American's credit, he did tee it up again and make a regulation birdie with his second, as the bogey dropped him one shot back of his fellow countryman going into Sunday.

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x