A week after wedding, rookie Kizzire is in Vegas contention

During his first full week as a PGA Tour member, Patton Kizzire had something better to do than play in the Frys.com Open: He got married.

Kizzire, who won two times on the Web.com Tour and was its leading money winner last season, exchanged vows with his now-wife, Kari, in Georgia on Oct. 17.

“Even though a lot of good golf stuff has happened, getting married is the biggest event of the year and of my life so far,” Kizzire said. “I’m super excited to be a husband and to start my year on the PGA Tour as a husband and see what I can do.”

So, the Auburn product delayed his PGA Tour debut by a week, making his first start in Las Vegas at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. So far, so good for Kizzire, who was three shots off the pace when Round 2 played was called on Friday due to darkness. The 29-year-old backed up an opening 6-under 65 at TPC Summerlin with a Friday 69.

Kizzire has some bold goals for the season, looking to find a way into the Masters and on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Though Kizzire has set the bar very high for his rookie campaign, he’s hoping to build to his aspirations, not get them all in one fell swoop like last week’s winner Emiliano Grillo.

“I’m taking it week by week and trying to get in the mix,” Kizzire said, “just get off to a good, smooth start and then wake up and find myself in a good spot.”

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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