Kevin Kisner shows fearless streak in chasing first PGA Tour win

Having been part of the most spellbinding finish in the history of The Players Championship last Sunday afternoon, Kevin Kisner – who along with Sergio Garcia was beaten by Rickie Fowler in a playoff – already had the perfect getaway planned.

Hog hunting on Monday with fellow golfer Boo Weekly and friends at a sprawling camp near Camden, S.C.

They didn’t kill any hogs – “Might have been too many beers consumed to get any hogs,” Kisner said – but it was an ideal break for the 31-year-old from Aiken, S.C., who has become one of the PGA Tour’s hottest players.

Last month, Kisner birdied the 72nd hole at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island, S.C., to force a playoff with Jim Furyk, ultimately losing on the second extra hole.

At The Players Championship, Kisner birdied the 16th and 17th holes to tie for the lead and still wonders how his birdie putt on the 72nd hole played peek-a-boo with the cup before dying away on the right edge.

“I early called it,” said Kisner, who thought for an instant he’d won the $1.8 million first prize and all the career-changing benefits that come with it.

Kisner didn’t wallow in disappointment, keeping his appointment with Weekly and some caddies at the Duck Bottom hunting camp.

Just a few years ago, Kisner was playing the eGolf Tour based in Charlotte, driving from club to club through the Carolinas, playing for small checks. Now he’s in his fourth full season on PGA Tour and has shown a fearless streak that, along with productive swing work with instructor John Tillery, has elevated him in the PGA Tour strata.

The only thing missing is a victory.

“I’ve always wanted the ball in my hand coming down the stretch and I felt like I’ve had it two of the last three (tournaments) and I’ve done about everything I can,” Kisner said. “One of these days I’m going to shoot 65 on Sunday and come up and somebody is going to hand it to me.”

A year ago, Kisner was in the final pairing of the Wells Fargo Championship, but a 73 on Sunday left him tied for sixth. When he pulled into Quail Hollow around lunch time Tuesday and un/loaded his big Ford F-150, Kisner felt at home.

His parents grew up in Charlotte and his brother-in-law is a Quail Hollow member. Kisner knows his way around the club and the course, which he feels fits his game beautifully. He feels comfortable working shots both directions and he showed again Sunday at the TPC’s Stadium Course that he can putt under pressure.

Kisner, who plays at Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, has a natural competitive streak. His father was a good high school athlete, and they still throw the football together during beach trips. Kisner grew up playing golf against his Aiken buddies, including PGA Tour player and fellow Aiken resident Scott Brown, and now he plays on the biggest stage.

“All we wanted to do was beat each other,” Kisner said. “If you want to beat somebody, you had to learn how to do it. Every level I’ve won, that’s what I love, to be in that situation … I want the pressure. I want to feel it, and I feel like I can perform when I have the pressure on me.

“But at some point, I’m going to hit a bad shot under pressure. That’s just part of it.”

Kisner hasn’t missed many shots under the gun recently. He has a trust in his swing that was missing until he and Tillery gave it a more consistent motion. Until a month ago, Kisner had only five top-10 finishes in his PGA Tour career. Since then, he has had two chances to win.

But little has changed. He’s the same guy he always has been. He played golf at Georgia, winning a team national championship there, and he still plays golf with his buddies when he’s home.

Kisner has a custom-made EZ-Go golf cart with a sound system, Bluetooth capabilities and various other comforts not found on most carts. There’s room to keep a few cold beverages, which go nicely with the music and the golf.

If he can, Kisner hopes to get to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the All-Star race Saturday night, but his first priority is at Quail Hollow.

“If I keep playing the way I’m playing, I’m going to win one sooner or later,” Kisner said.

This story was originally published May 13, 2015 at 5:23 PM with the headline "Kevin Kisner shows fearless streak in chasing first PGA Tour win."