DO OR DIE: Chris Kirk Needed a Birdie on 72nd Hole to Keep TOUR Card

This wasn’t your weekend “miss the putt, lose $20 bucks” type of pressure.  This was, birdie the 72nd hole of a PGA TOUR event to finish T2 to keep your TOUR Card. 

How’s that for pressure?

Chris Kirk battled depression and alcoholism before bouncing back to the golf world in hopes to redirect the ship on what was his final medical exemption, and really, his last chance.

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But the finish wasn’t easy. Kirk strung together 4 straight 65’s last week, but it got a little scary on Sunday.  Starring down possibly a new career, Kirk stepped up to the 18th tee knowing he had to make birdie or better to keep the train going.

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Kirk, who shacked up with some fellow Georgia Bulldog alums, found himself in a calming place for most of the week.  When Kirk stepped up to the Par 5 18th on Sunday knowing he needed a birdie, he went into finisher mode … and made it happen.

“I never felt like it was a do-or-die type of situation,” Kirk said after his round. “I think I was going to get to play some [events], but yeah, it totally changes everything being able to be back to picking my schedule like I’m used to over the last number of years.

After making his birdie, Kirk now has new life on TOUR.

“I think the biggest perspective for me is I can wake up every day and I’m happy that I am who I am, and I have nothing to hide. You know, I just feel like I’m doing the best I can and enjoying life. It’s as simple as that.”

Cover Image Via Twitter