Stewart Cink near lead at RSM Classic, win would create incredible end to 2016

Stewart Cink and wife Lisa have had probably the toughest year of their lives

Talk about great stories to close out 2016. Stewart Cink winning the final tournament of the 2016 calendar year would be up there.

Cink shot an 8-under 62 on Thursday in Round 1 of the RSM Classic and trails leader Mackenzie Hughes by just one. Cink has not won on the PGA Tour since he took the Claret Jug from Tom Watson at the 2009 Open Championship.

It runs a lot deeper than that for Cink, though. This year has been one of the most challenging from him as a professional as his wife Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier in the year. Cink stepped away for a while and has been in and out all year.

He said this week that she is getting better, though, according to the Associated Press, and that she was actually at the course on Thursday to watch her husband's round.

His wife, Lisa, walked all 18 holes at Sea Island. After nine rounds of chemotherapy, she received what Cink said was a good report from doctors in Houston on Monday. Cink says he's made some changes in his attitude on the course to make golf only part of his life.

Cink's 62 on Thursday included nine birdies and a single bogey. It was his career low round on the PGA Tour. He finished in the top 10 in the field in approach shots as well as putting. That is going to win you a lot of golf tournaments.

"I was really staying into what I was doing," said Cink. "I did a pretty good job of keeping myself reined back in when I needed to do work. I did a pretty good job picking out where I could be aggressive. It was a really fun day.

"I feel a little bit free and easy at the moment. We've been going through a lot this year, and perspective is probably catching up with me a little bit. It does feel really nice out there. I'm going to hit plenty of bad shots too. The key is being able to accept those and move on. I've been having that kind of attitude. That frees you up right there."

I know we're not supposed to root, but it's difficult to not want Cink to get a win to round out the 2016 PGA Tour year. In a year of tremendous stories in golf, him winning for the first time since summer 2009 might turn out to be the best one. As always, though, there is a long way to go.