FORT WORTH, Texas — Jason Kokrak entered this week at the Charles Schwab Challenge glowing about the truck that came with his victory at Colonial Country Club in 2021, noting that he recently took his kids to school in the renovated, light blue 1946 Dodge Power Wagon.
He ended the week by motoring.
Off alone as the first player out of the gate on Sunday, the reigning champion flew through his round and when he tapped in for bogey on the 8th hole in front of the few fans already assembled at the Kokrak Ultra Athletic Club named in his honor, only 61 minutes had elapsed.
Kokrak didn’t pull out the pin on No. 8, and it was obvious he’d become frustrated after posting four bogeys in six holes after opening his round with an eagle and a birdie.
After recording a double on No. 15 and a bogey on 16, Kokrak finished the day with a 72 and was 8 over for the tournament, ending his Sunday round in 133 minutes. He didn’t finish last of those who made the cut, however, as Harry Higgs used four doubles to finish well behind Kokrak.
Quite the contrast from a year ago, when his hot putter helped Kokrak win a duel with Jordan Spieth on Sunday to claim his second PGA Tour title. He followed that with a victory at the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open just six months later.
Although Kokrak hustled through his round, he didn’t break any records in the process.
Last September, Joaquin Niemann toured East Lake Golf Club in one hour, 53 minutes at The Tour Championship, which is the official record for the fastest round on Tour — although officials have never been one to tout the achievement since ultra-fast play isn’t encouraged. Kevin Na had played the final round of the 2016 Tour Championship in 1 hour, 59 minutes.
The unofficial record was set by Wesley Bryan, who played the 2017 BMW Championship in one hour, 29 minutes.
Even though he didn’t fare well this week, Kokrak — a North Bay, Ontario, native — insists he’s still keen on the Lone Star State and mentioned earlier in the week that he wouldn’t rule out eventually living here.
“My cousin used to live in Houston and he always jokes that I should move to Texas because I’ve had so much success here,” he said. “You never know; I might become a Texan later on in life.”
