Home » Kirk takes PGA lead as Matsuyama shrugs off robbery to go second

Kirk takes PGA lead as Matsuyama shrugs off robbery to go second

Chris Kirk aced the par-3 14th hole on his way to grabbing a one-stroke lead after Thursday’s first round of the PGA St. Jude’s Championship.The hole-in-one, the fourth of Kirk’s PGA career, gave him a three-stroke lead but a closing bogey brought him back near the pack.

AmericanChrisKirkacedthepar-314thholeonhiswaytofiringasix-underpar64foraone-strokeleadafterthefirstroundofthePGASt.JudeChampionship(ANDYLYONS)ChrisKirkacedthepar-314thholeonhiswaytograbbingaone-strokeleadafterThursday’sfirstroundofthePGASt.Jude’sChampionship. The39-year-oldAmerican,seekinghisseventhPGAtriumph,firedasix-underpar64atTPCSouthwindinMemphis,Tennessee,intheFedExCupplayoffopener. Sharingsecondon65wereJapan’sHidekiMatsuyama,playingwithouthisregularcaddieandcoachafteraLondonrestaurantrobbery,plusCanada’sTaylorPendrithandFrance’sMatthieuPavon. Onahotday,Kirkhadthemostsizzlingshotofallwhenheplayeda6-ironhighdrawfrom205yardsat14thatlanded10feetrightoftheflagstick,thenbouncedandrolledintothehole. “Iwa