Latest news with #Kirk
New Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Chris Kirk among trio in lead at Rocket Classic
Chris Kirk, Philip Knowles and Andrew Putnam share the lead after two rounds of the Rocket Classic, while the course record fell for the second straight day Friday at Detroit Golf Club. Knowles achieved the rare feat of making three eagles in a single round en route to an 8-under 64, and yet he was three shots behind the lowest round of the day. That belonged to Jake Knapp, who shot 123 spots up the leaderboard by following Thursday's even-par 72 with an 11-under 61. Kirk posted a 65 Friday and Putnam a 66 to join Knowles at 14-under-par 130 halfway through the tournament, one shot clear of fourth-place Jackson Suber (65). Aldrich Potgieter of South Africa (70), Mark Hubbard (69) and Michael Thorbjornsen (67) are tied for fifth at 12 under. Kirk made nine birdies Friday, including the first three holes and the final two, as he hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation. Of the three co-leaders, he's also the most established, with two of his six PGA Tour victories coming since 2023. "The last few days everything has been pretty solid," Kirk said. "You know, I've putted the ball pretty nice. Not making everything or anything like that, but definitely made some really good quality putts. Obviously hit a good many good iron and wedge shots to give myself some looks." Knowles has nowhere near the reputation of Kirk. He is ranked No. 519 in the world and is making his 27th start on the PGA Tour this week. Knowles started his round on the back nine, and his eagles came on three different par-5 holes: an 81-foot chip at No. 17, a 37-yard pitch-in at No. 4 and a 40-yard hole-out at No. 7. "You feel like you're standing on 17 tee, or my eighth hole, and you're at even par on the day and you just feel like you're behind the 8-ball at some level," Knowles said. "I hit that tee ball in the left rough, drew an OK lie and strategically we knew we had to miss it left of the hole and we were able to do that. I just kind of saw the line and you felt like, as I was standing there with that chip, I was very confident I was going to hit it close. I can't ever say I knew I was going to make it, but that one going in, felt like that was the catapult." Then there was Putnam, whose bogey-free day included one eagle, a chip-in at No. 7. He is still hunting for his second PGA Tour win to validate his first, the Barracuda Championship back in 2018. "Yeah, I'm playing well right now," Putnam said. "I don't know how any other week's going to go. Golf is such an interesting game, you take it when you get it so hopefully capitalize on feeling like I'm starting to play good." Knapp started his round on the back nine with three birdies and a 34-foot eagle putt. He kept it rolling with six birdies on the front nine, and he finished the day first in the field in strokes gained: putting. One day after Potgieter and Kevin Roy posted rounds of 62 to break the course record, Knapp took it for himself by making nine birdies and one eagle in a bogey-free round. "I'm definitely not afraid of shooting a low number," said Knapp, who shot a 59 earlier this year at the Cognizant Classic. "I feel like when I start making birdies, I want to make more. I was even kind of thinking about 59 (late in Friday's round)." Knapp is one of 15 players tied at 11 under, a logjam that also includes Roy (71), Collin Morikawa (64), Ben Griffin (67), Gary Woodland (66) and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (66). Scoring conditions in Detroit were so favorable for the first two days that the cut line fell at 6 under par. Wyndham Clark (4 under), Max Homa (3 under) and South Korea's Tom Kim (1 under) missed the cut, as well as defending champion Cam Davis of Australia (even par) and 2023 champ Rickie Fowler (2 under). — REUTERS
France 24
14 hours ago
- Sport
- France 24
Knowles soars with eagles to share PGA Detroit lead
Knowles, ranked 519th in the world, fired an eight-under par 64 to match Kirk and Putnam on 14-under 130 for 36 holes at Detroit Golf Club. "I got pretty lucky a couple times," Knowles said. "I hit quality shots that ended up going in the hole, but I can't imagine chipping in three times for eagle ever again in my life." Back-nine starter Knowles, on a medical exemption after thumb and eye injuries the past two years, seeks his first PGA title after making the cut only twice in 11 prior starts this season. "It has not been my best year thus far by any stretch of the imagination, but golf is funny," Knowles said. "When you're playing bad, you never feel like you're going to play good again, and when you have days like today, you just don't understand how you could ever shoot a bad round of golf. "So it was super rewarding." Knowles made his first eagle came at the par-five 17th, when he rolled in an 81-foot chip from the fringe. At the par-five fourth, Knowles chipped in from the fairway from 37 yards and, three holes later on another par-five, he chipped in from the left rough from 40 holes. "That was surreal," he said. Putnam, who shot 66, birdied three of the first four holes then eagled the par-five seventh on an 88-foot chip-in from the fairway and got up and down from a bunker at 14 in his bogey-free round. "It didn't feel like bogey free," Putnam said. "It felt like I was kind of all over the place on the back nine, but the front nine was pretty simple golf. Wind came up, got a couple tricky holes out there, so glad I could grind it out." Kirk fired a 65, opening with three consecutive birdies and closing with back-to-back birdies. He seeks a seventh career PGA title and his first since last year's tournament of champions in Hawaii. "Dream start for sure," Kirk said. "Then was able to add a few more. Back nine was a little bit more hit and miss... But I was in a really good rhythm. Proud of the way I hung in there and kept hitting good shots." American Jackson Suber was fourth on 131 with countrymen Mark Hubbard and Michael Thorbjornsen and South African Aldrich Potgieter on 132. Jake Knapp fired a course-record 61 to stand on 133, his bogey-free round with nine birdies and an eagle breaking the mark of 62 set Thursday by fellow American Kevin Roy and Potgieter. It was the second course record of the season by Knapp, who fired a 59 at PGA National in the Cognizant Classic.
Daily Record
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
PGA Tour ace back in the lucky Airbnb as Trophy House secret behind stars that can't stop winning revealed
Chris Kirk has a spot secured in the amazing accommodation which spills victors Chris Kirk reckons he'd be foolish not to bag a bed back into specially-dubbed Trophy House which can't stop guesting PGA Tour winners. The American star posted a second-straight 65 at the Rocket Classic to surge to the top of the boards at tis week's event in Detriot. However, looking ahead to next week and the John Deere Classic, Kirk is banking on a room at the specially-named digs near to venue TPD Deere Run. Incredibly, the six-bedroom location shared by stars during that week in Illinois has seen the winner of the tournament emerge for three-straight years. Twelve months ago, Davis Thompson stormed to success having stayed in the accommodation with JT Poston, Denny McCarthy, Ben Kohles, Greyson Sigg and Patton Kizzire. In 2022, it was Poston who came out of that specific front door every day to win the title and, in 2023, it was Sepp Straka who secured victory. Ironically, Thompson only get into the pad last year when the European Ryder Cup hero opted to move into a hotel room with his wife and new baby. It seems Kirk was the found who located the house in the first place and he's dead-set on getting a bed back for next week's tournament. After his second round at the Rocket, he explained an imminent attempt to extend the sequence as he said: 'I'm going to do my best, yeah. I'd be foolish not to stay there, that's for sure. I haven't played the John Deere the last couple of years. But I originally found that house, I guess on Airbnb, probably four years ago, something like that. 'Then I think it's JT that's gotten to know the owners of the house and has just kind of had a set booking for the year. So three years in a row the winner has stayed there. Hopefully I can make it a fourth.' Thompson knew all about it a year ago as he said: 'It's kind of crazy. I stayed in Sepp's room. Me and him may be fighting for that room next year!' Poston gave an insight to the pad and said: 'There's like six of us in there and it's fun because you come back and you're playing cards or throwing football in the backyard. It's a good way to decompress and get away from golf because the hard part of the hotel thing is you get back to the hotel and, if you're alone, you're probably thinking about golf.' Kirk may well already have a trophy to take to Illinois if he maintains his flying Rocket opening over the weekend. Slow play didn't slow his scoring and he said: 'It took us a lot longer to play. I think it was like two hours and 10 minutes to play the front and two hours and 50 minutes to play the back. So it's a little bit tough to kind of stay in a good flow and rhythm when it backs up like that. But really proud of the way I hung in there and kept hitting good shots. 'The last few days, everything has been pretty solid. I played pretty bad all year to the point where I was kind of thinking about not playing the US Open just because I was really struggling and didn't know what I was doing. But I really love Oakmont, so that was kind of why I was like: Alright, I'm going to go play and see what I can do. And I played really solid. 'I drove the ball the best I had all year that week and everything was pretty good. I think it's just one of those things where you're never as far off as you feel like you are when you're not playing very well. It's such a fine line out here. 'All the players on this tour are so good that, you miss a cut by one or two and you feel like it's the end of the world and you feel like you're the worst golfer ever and you're really not as far off as you think. I definitely feel comfortable here. It's a golf course that I like. I don't have really a great reason why.'
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Coronation Street 'to bring back' legend after 10 years as new love interest for Kirk
Coronation Street 'to bring back' legend after 10 years as new love interest for Kirk Coronation Street fans are convinced that Kirk Sutherland is set to embark on a new romance with a returning soap legend - but will it be with Cilla Battersby-Brown? Coronation Street 'to bring back' legend after 10 years as new love interest for Kirk Coronation Street viewers are forecasting a budding romance for Kirk Sutherland with a beloved character making a comeback. Kirk, portrayed by Andy Whyment, has been a constant presence on the soap since his first appearance in 2000. As Maria Connor's (Samia Longchambon) brother, he quickly became a fan favourite. Known for his witty remarks and endearing personality, Kirk has been at the centre of numerous major plotlines, ensuring his stint in Weatherfield has been anything but dull. He's also experienced a string of unsuccessful romances, most recently with ex-resident Beth Tinker (Lisa George). Kirk and Beth became an item back in 2013 when he saved her from a disastrous date. Kirk is a firm favourite on the soap (Image: ITV ) Their relationship quickly blossomed, and they soon became a cherished couple among soap viewers. Making it official, Kirk and Beth exchanged vows in 2015, reports Leicestershire Live. Article continues below However, in August 2024, Beth shattered Kirk's heart when she departed the cobbles, driven out by shady character Kit Green (Jacob Roberts). Since then, a heartbroken Kirk has been eager to move forward. He was left heartbroken when ex Beth left (Image: ITV ) Now, fans are speculating that a new romantic prospect is on the horizon for Kirk. Sharing their theories online, viewers believe he could kindle a romance with returning soap legend Cilla Battersby-Brown (Kirk Sutherland). "Maybe they will bring Cilla back," speculated a Corrie enthusiast on a dedicated Facebook fan page. Another chimed in with eager anticipation: "I would so love that." Fans have predicted a Cilla and Kirk romance (Image: ITV ) Furthering the conversation, someone suggested: "She would be a good match Kirk don't you think so?" to which another fan concurred: "Yeah tbh". Initially gracing the cobbles in 2003 as Les Battersby's (played by Bruce Jones) romantic interest, Cilla quickly captured the hearts of fans. Her time on the show was marked by unforgettable scenes, such as the classic mishap where she and Les crashed through their ceiling due to an unexpected interruption by their dog Schmeichel. However, by 2007, viewers were left disheartened as Cilla bid farewell to Weatherfield, only to reappear for a short stint in 2014. Since then, however, the outspoken favourite has been noticeably absent from the Street. Article continues below Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Aristocrat Leisure (ARLUF) Receives a Buy from Bell Potter
In a report released today, Baxter Kirk from Bell Potter maintained a Buy rating on Aristocrat Leisure (ARLUF – Research Report), with a price target of A$79.00. The company's shares closed last Friday at $41.41. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter According to TipRanks, Kirk is an analyst with an average return of -4.8% and a 50.00% success rate. The word on The Street in general, suggests a Strong Buy analyst consensus rating for Aristocrat Leisure with a $46.74 average price target, representing a 12.87% upside. In a report released yesterday, Morgans also maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a A$71.00 price target. ARLUF market cap is currently $27.09B and has a P/E ratio of 29.52.
