Kirk takes two-shot lead into final round at The Honda Classic PGA TOUR 2023

Welcome to our coverage of The Honda Classic, where Chris Kirk is looking to end his winless drought on the PGA TOUR. Kirk battled his way to a 4-under round of 66 on Saturday, putting him at 13-under 197 for the week and giving him a two-shot lead over Eric Cole through three rounds at PGA National. His last win on TOUR was almost eight years ago, and he’s eager to hoist a trophy again. In this video, we’ll take a closer look at Kirk’s performance, as well as the other contenders in the field.

Chris Kirk’s Strong Performance (400 words)
Kirk has been playing excellent golf this week, and his 66 on Saturday was especially impressive. He made a wild birdie on the last hole, after his second shot on the par-5 18th wound up next to the grandstand and underneath someone’s bag that was left against the structure. He got a drop, chipped on from there, and made the putt to restore a two-shot lead. It was a clutch performance from Kirk, who has been waiting for this opportunity to win again.

Kirk has four wins on the PGA TOUR and played in the Presidents Cup in 2015. However, he hasn’t been able to secure a victory in nearly eight years. This week, he’s been playing with confidence and precision, and it’s clear that he’s hungry for a win. If he can maintain his form on Sunday, he’ll have an excellent chance to do just that.

While Kirk has the lead, there are several other players in the field who could still win The Honda Classic. Shane Lowry is at 9 under after shooting a 65 on Saturday, and he’s right in the mix. Lowry had a chance to win this tournament last year, and he’ll be looking to make amends on Sunday. Ben Taylor is also at 9 under, tied with Lowry. Taylor shot a 69 on Saturday and will be looking to make a move up the leaderboard on Sunday.

Defending champion Sepp Straka is six shots back at 7 under, but he’s a dangerous player who’s been playing excellent golf this week. Straka followed opening rounds of 69 and 68 with a 66 on Saturday, and it was his sixth consecutive round in the 60s at PGA National. Straka went to Georgia, as did Kirk, and the two players are good friends. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Straka make a move up the leaderboard on Sunday.

Two players, Min Woo Lee and Adrian Meronk, are also looking to qualify for THE PLAYERS Championship by getting into the top 50 in the world. Lee struggled on Saturday, shooting a 73 to drop to even par for the tournament. Meronk, on the other hand, is tied for 20th at 4 under and still has a chance to make a move up the leaderboard.

Ryan Brehm made a big move on Saturday, shooting a 64 to finish tied for 15th at 5-under 205. Brehm started the round tied for 60th and will be looking to continue his good form on Sunday.

Akshay Bhatia had an interesting round on Saturday, needing a new outfit after playing a ball from the water. He went shirtless for the shot – one of two shirtless escapades during his round — getting covered in mud, and his girlfriend brought him a change of clothes. “It was really gross. Really, really gross,” Bhatia said.