Kirk seals biggest win

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September 2, 2014

Chris Kirk held his nerve to win the Deutsche Bank Championship by two strokes on Monday.

Kirk went through his final two rounds without carding a bogey to leave him on 15 under for the tournament, two shots ahead of Billy Horschel, Russell Henley and Geoff Ogilvy. It is the biggest win of his career.

The American’s final round at TPC Boston, a five under 66, was littered with birdies. However, it was the 23 foot birdie putt at the 13th and another on the par three 16th that gave him the lead.

Perhaps more impressively, Kirk outplayed world number one Rory McIlroy in his last two rounds. The Northern Irishman had a tough day, carding four bogeys to finish on 11 under, tied for fifth place with John Senden.

“Winning the Deutsche Bank and going to No. 1 in the FedEx Cup, and $1.4 million, that’s plenty for me for one day,” Kirk told golf.com.

Despite the win, the 29-year-old is skeptical about his chances of making the US Ryder Cup team.

“I certainly don’t feel entitled, or feel like I’m a shoe-in to get a pick,” added the man from Tennessee.

“I’ve obviously really put myself into consideration, and it’s something that I would love to do. But like I’ve said before, the nine guys that made it are automatic. Those are the guys on the team. The other three? If you get in, it’s a bonus.”

Meanwhile, Horschel will be rueing his missed chance on the par five 18th. He was just one stroke behind Kirk and had a chance to win with an eagle, or at least force a playoff with a birdie. A booming drive left him with a six iron to the green. Unfortunately, he landed short in the hazard and would end up carding a bogey.

“The worst swing I’ve made all week,” quipped Horschel.

“When Chris missed his birdie, I thought I was going to hit it on the green. I thought I was going to make the putt and make the eagle and win it outright. But it just wasn’t my day, I guess, to hit that bad of a shot.”

Jason Day and US Open winner Martin Kaymer finished tied for seventh on ten under, while Masters champion Bubba Watson would close out on five under.