A year after winning at Sea Island, Chris Kirk looking to see how far he can go

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Chris Kirk had a five-week break from golf that featured no Ryder Cup and no complaints. Considering how the Americans fared at Gleneagles and the ugly fallout from another loss, it was probably a good one to miss.

Kirk was left off the Ryder Cup team even though he won the Deutsche Bank Championship on the day before U.S. captain Tom Watson announced his three picks. Even though he won twice in one season, he didn't argue with the picks the day after or even the weeks that followed. Kirk figured it was his fault for not qualifying on his own.

He starts all over Thursday at the McGladrey Classic, his first event of the new PGA Tour season.