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US golfer Chris Kirk recently withdrew from the Genesis Invitational to take part in the ongoing Honda Classic.
He is the 54-hole leader at the 2023 Honda Classic after registering a 4-under 66 in the third round of the tournament to improve to a 13-under 197. However, Kirk ditched last week's Genesis Invitational.
Spanish golfer Jon Rahm won the title with a whopping $3.6 million cash prize, jumping to the World No. 1 spot with the victory. But Kirk skipped the better-paying event for this week's Honda Classic, where the purse has slimmed down to $8.4 million.
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After missing the cut at the WM Phoenix Open, he had the intent of playing on a golf course better suited to his game. That's why he didn't play at the Genesis Invitational.
Delving deeper into Chris Kirk's decision
Prior to missing the cut in the WM Phoenix Open, Chris Kirk was on a roll. He finished T-3 at the Sony Open in Hawaii and third at the American Express, propelling him from No. 90 to No. 47 in the OWGR.
The top 50 golfers until the cut-off date of March 27, 2023, become eligible to play at the coveted Masters in April. This means that Chris Kirk has a legitimate chance of making it into the Masters at Augusta National in April.
Before delving deeper into Kirk's decision, it is important to understand the details of the Genesis Invitational. The tournament was held at the Riviera Golf Course, where Kirk has never fared well. Although the exorbitant purse of the tournament may have convinced him to sign up for the event, he did not follow through with it.
According to a source in his camp, he simply thought that his chances were better at the Honda Classic, where he finished a career-best T-7 last year in 11 previous appearances at the PGA National Golf Course, and withdrew.
But after three rounds of the Honda Classic, his calculated move appears to be brilliant, and it could lead to an automatic exemption to the Masters, a seven-figure payday, and so much more.
