who was chris kirk

Chris Kirk is an American professional golfer born on May 8, 1985, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and raised in Woodstock, Georgia. He plays on the PGA Tour and has won six tournaments there, including victories in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2023, and 2024. Kirk played college golf at the University of Georgia, where he was part of the 2005 NCAA championship team and won the Ben Hogan Award as the top collegiate player in 2007. He has represented the United States in various team competitions like the Walker Cup and the Presidents Cup. Kirk reached a career-high world ranking of 16 in 2015. Besides golf, he is known for his resilience, having taken an indefinite leave from golf to address struggles with alcohol and mental health, then making a comeback and winning again. He is also noted for his interests outside golf, such as kayaking and playing piano, which he taught himself.