Kirk wins PGA Honda Classic in playoff

Chris Kirk birdied the first playoff hole to beat Eric Cole at the Honda Classic on Sunday, ending a near eight-year title drought with his fifth US PGA Tour triumph. It was an emotional win for the 37-year-old American, whose last victory at Colonial in 2015 was followed by time away from the game in 2019 to deal with depression and alcohol misuse.He took a two-shot lead into the final round and carded a one-under-par 69, shaking off a bogey at the 72nd hole with a birdie when they returned again to 18 for the first hole of the playoff. There Kirk spun his approach within a foot of the pin while Cole was in a greenside bunker and missed a 10-foot birdie attempt to extend the playoff."I just have so much to be thankful for,” Kirk said. "I’m so grateful. I’m so grateful for my sobriety. I’m so grateful for my family. I’m so grateful for everyone that’s supported me throughout the past three or four years especially.”Cole, who is a US tour rookie this season at the age of 34 – and with 56 professional wins behind him on the Minor League Golf Tour mini-tour – carded a final-round 67 on the par-70 PGA National course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where he joined Kirk in finishing with a 72-hole total of 14-under par 266. He and Kirk duelled all day and finished two strokes in front of third-placed Tyler Duncan, who carded a 66 for 268.Howell wins LIV Golf season-opener in MexicoCharles Howell III fired an eight-under-par 63 to win the opening event of the LIV Golf season at Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen in Mexico on Sunday.Howell, whose most recent professional victory before Sunday came five years ago at the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic, reeled off eight birdies to finish with a three-round 16-under-par aggregate of 197.The 43-year-old journeyman, who started the day one shot off the pace, erupted over the front nine with six birdies before adding a seventh at the 10th hole. He grabbed the eighth birdie of a bogey-free round on the 17th to seal a comfortable four-shot victory. Peter Uihlein finished in second after carding a closing 68 for an aggregate 201."I had a lot of experience here, and I think that helped a bit in the wind. I would say that,” Howell said. "Versus guys that are now just seeing it for the first time, I think having played it in the wind for so many years, I think that helped a little bit.”Uihlein carded an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole, but struggled on the par-4 12th, posting a triple bogey. Although he finished strong with four birdies over the final six holes, he still wasn’t able to catch Howell."I mean, other than one – technically three bad swings on one hole, it was good,” Uihlein said of his round. "I mean, I hit a bad drive on 3, but other than that, for the most part, that was my – it was a good bogey. It really was a great bogey. I mean, I lost one ball all week. I mean, other than that one hole. "All in all a good week. Just tried not to let the team down this week, first event. But yeah, it was solid.”South Africa’s Branden Grace took third place with a four-under-par 67 while England’s Paul Casey was three shots back with a closing 70. Brendan Steele and Australia’s Cam Smith were tied for fifth place on six under for the tournament. Steele closed with a six-under-par 65 while Smith settled for a 67. The Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf Series was launched last year, offering lucrative signing bonuses and record purses of $25mn for abbreviated 54-hole events. The next event on the LIV Golf schedule takes place at the Gallery Golf Club outside Tucson, Arizona from March 17-19.