Kirk's success comes with plenty of Love

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Chris Condon/PGA TOUR

Chris Kirk has already earned over $77,000 on the Nationwide Tour this season.

It looks like Chris Kirk has found his way back to contention, thanks to an unlikely guide lighting the way.

Kirk, the 2007 NCAA Player of the Year at the University of Georgia, has started to show the kind of potential he exhibited when competing for the Bulldogs. In the most recent Nationwide Tour's Moonah Classic, Kirk lost the title to Jim Herman in a playoff.

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Kirk gives a lot of credit for his resurgence to his new coach, Mark Love. Kirk, a self-taught player who has taken very few lessons, approached Love for help after they became friends a year ago.

Love, who sometimes caddies for his brother Davis and is part of the family's golf course design team, has an office adjacent to that of Kirk's agent, Jimmy Johnston, at Sea Island, Ga. Love had very little experience as a teacher, but his approach has turned out to be golden for Kirk, who was looking for guidance, not a complete makeover.

"Mark isn't really a teacher, but his father (Davis Love Jr.) was one of the best teachers and he was big on drills," Kirk said. "So, Mark has all these drills, which has worked great for me. He helps me pick out the right drill that's appropriate to my game."

Kirk, who has always had great feel on the course, said he had become more mechanical. Going back to basics has helped him rediscover himself.

"Mark knows what it takes," Kirk said. "He knows what to do with a golf swing." And Kirk was able to make the improvements in his putting, which has short-circuited his efforts for the last year.

The high point of the season was the third round at the Moonah Classic in Australia. Kirk shot a 65 under extremely windy conditions. That was three shots better than any other man in the field -- only four of 75 players broke 70 that day -- and thrust him into contention.

"You know those kind of rounds don't come around very often," Kirk said. "I started the day 10 shots behind and I knew it was going to be a tough day, with conditions like they were. I could tell early on that things were going to be pretty good."

Kirk began rolling in putts. His speed was dialed in and he said, "Most putts looked perfect and I was able to find some edges."

He played well the final day and shot 70 in the final round to tie Herman, but lost on the first playoff hole.

"It was heartbreaking to lose the playoff, but I played well," he said.

That wasn't the case in 2009, which could have been the most disheartening season of his life. He played in only 13 Nationwide events and made the cut only four times; his earnings of $13,606 placed him 178th. It was a difficult time for Kirk, a three-time All-American and member of the 2005 national championship team.

"It was the worst year I've ever had in golf, but it was the best year of my personal life," he said. Kirk got married in August and was able to re-focus for the 2010 season. Things began to turn around in the second round at q-school, where he shot a final-round 64 at Callaway Gardens to jump up the standings and earn a spot in the final stage.

He began the last round of the final stage in 81st. Knowing he needed to make a move if he wanted a full exemption on either the Nationwide Tour or the PGA TOUR, Kirk shot a final-round 67 to finish in a tie for 48th place. That gave him exempt status on the Nationwide Tour and allowed him to take a well-deserved deep breath.

"That final round at the second stage is something I will never forget. That was huge," he said. "And the same thing for the final stage, to go from being five shots out to being fully exempt..."

Kirk has already won $77,565 this season, five-fold more than he banked a year ago, and a good start toward finishing among the top 25 and earning his PGA TOUR card. He understands that one tournament doesn't make a season, but after his travails of 2009 it is a great way to start.

Stan Awtrey is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.