Australian golfer Paul Gow reacts after 23-year PGA Tour record broken

Australian golfer Paul Gow has had his long-standing record for most birdies made at a PGA Tour event broken.

Gow holed 32 birdies during the 2001 BC Open, and that same year the record was matched by Mark Calcavecchia at the Phoenix Open.

Gow and Calcavecchia shared the record alone until Spanish champion Jon Rahm also made 32 birdies last season, at The Sentry.

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Coincidentally - or, perhaps not so much - it was at The Sentry again where the 23-year record fell on Monday morning (AEDT).

Korean star Sungjae Im scored 34 birdies across the 72 holes to set a new benchmark.

It wasn't enough for Im to win the tournament, however, as he finished tied for fifth as Chris Kirk won by one shot over Sahith Theegala.

"I made a lot of birdies," Im said after finishing his round.

"But I kept thinking about the mistakes I made yesterday. So I played hard today and was able to finish with 11 birdies (for round four)."

Gow, 53, responded on X to his record being broken.

"Records are meant to be broken," he posted, while pointing out he does still hold a tour record in Australia.

Im is a birdie master, having also set a new record in 2021 for most birdies made in a PGA Tour season.

He holed 498 birdies that year to beat the previous record of 493, set in 2000 by Steve Flesch.

Nearly a year after Kirk made it all the way back by winning, he took another big step with a clutch 5-iron to two feet for birdie on the 17th hole that led to an 8-under 65 and a one-shot victory in The Sentry.

It was the third straight year the winner at Kapalua posted a fourth round of 8-under or better, and Kirk required no less to win the PGA Tour's season opener.

Theegala and Jordan Spieth each caught up to him on the back nine of another surprisingly calm day.

- with AP