Chris Kirk wins McGladrey Classic

Chris Kirk shot a final-round 66 to post a 14-under-par 72-hole total and win McGladrey Classic by one shot from Tim Clarke and Briny Baird at Sea Island Golf Club in Georgia

Chris Kirk
Nick Bonfield
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Chris Kirk wins McGladrey Classic

Chris Kirk shot a final-round 66 to post a 14-under-par 72-hole total and win McGladrey Classic by one shot from Tim Clarke and Briny Baird at Sea Island Golf Club in Georgia.

Victory was even sweeter for Kirk - now a two-time winner on the PGA Tour - given he has a home on Sea Island.

The Georgia native has now moved to fourth in the FedEx Cup standings and earned an invite to the 2014 Masters.

He started the final round in a tie for the lead with Baird, who missed the entire 2013 season after undergoing surgery on both shoulders.

Baird - who hadn't won on the PGA Tour in 364 previous starts - had moved one clear by the middle of the back nine, but a Kirk birdie on the par-3 17th levelled matters with one hole remaining.

Baird found a fairway bunker off the tee, but topped his subsequent four-iron 90 yards into the hazard.

Kirk found the green with his approach - and despite Baird holing a gutsy 25-footer for bogey - two putts were enough to secure the title for the 28-year-old.

"To come here to Sea Island, which is a place that I love and cherish so much, and Davis Love III's tournament, is just an unbelievable thing.

"He was my favourite player, and to win the McGladrey Classic really means a lot to me."

Clark compiled a closing best-of-tournament 62 to tie Baird for second place, with Scott Brown, Brian Gay and Australian John Senden finishing in a tie for fourth.

The McGladrey Classic Sea Island Golf Club, Georgia, USA November 7-10, purse $5,500,000, par 70 1) Chris Kirk (USA) 66-66-68-66 = 266 $990,000 T2) Briny Baird (USA) 63-70-67-67 = 267 $484,000 T2) Tim Clark (RSA) 67-67-71-62 = 267 $484,000 T4) Scott Brown (USA) 66-68-68-66 = 268 $227,333.34 T4) Brain Gay (USA) 63-72-66-67 = 268 $227,333.34 T4) John Senden (AUS) 66-67-68-67 = 268 $227,333.34 T7) Matt Every (USA) 67-68-69-66 = 270 $171,416.67 T7) Webb Simpson (USA) 65-68-71-66 = 270 $171,416.67 T7) Matt Kuchar (USA) 68-68-68-66 = 270 $171,416.67

Bold signifies Titleist golf ball usage

Nick Bonfield
Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

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