Eddie Kirby said he feels as if he’s come “full circle” with this life-long love affair with competitive golf.
His upcoming date in the U.S. Senior Open will provide an appearance in a fourth different USGA competition across a 43-year span (previously he was in the U.S. Junior Am, U.S. Amateur, and U.S. Open) and while his birth certificate confirms that at 59 he’s properly placed, the Rhode Islander sounds like he’d be willing to move down a few age classes.
“I mean, I feel like a kid again. I’m very lucky. I’m a blessed man,” said Kirby, who might be 5-foot-5 but he plays much bigger.
The reason for the exuberance is partly for what happened May 23 – Kirby shot 69 to tie Brian Spitz as they earned the two spots available at a U.S. Senior Open qualifier at Hatherly CC in Scituate – but more for the medical marvel that entered his life 18 months ago.
“It wasn’t long ago when I wasn’t in a very good spot,” said Kirby, who is Director of Instruction and Club Ambassador at The Aquidneck Club in Portsmouth, R.I. “One year I played two rounds, another year I played four rounds.”