It could seem unfair to Kirk that his accomplishments now and in the future will be overshadowed by what happened in the past. Kirk, however, sees it differently.
The portion of the tour’s schedule spanning the American autumn has habitually been used as a testing ground for players to break-in new equipment and a proving ground for companies wanting to make sure its clubs are ready to come to market.
The 25-year-old pays tribute to his parents Muralidhar and Karuna, who emigrated from India to the US during the 1980s, for their sacrifices and support and now hopes his triumph will inspire other young athletes in India to dream of sporting success.
Although Theegala never let up in the final round, there was no denying his short game and work with the putter kept things from going awry during the week.
When asked why he’s playing this week, Theegala, one of the more thoughtful interviews on the PGA Tour, responded by saying, “I don’t think that’s a great question.”
For all the jockeying for position over 72 holes at Olympia Fields Country Club, for all the drama as players moved in and out of the top 30 in the FedEx Cup points standings, only one player – Matt Fitzpatrick – was able to play his way into the Tour Championship.
While all eyes were elsewhere on welcoming the latest young gun to the sport, Sam Burns quietly and confidently captured the Sanderson Farms Championship.