KURT KITAYAMA NEWS

Deadspin | Kurt Kitayama scares 59, ties course record at 3M Open Deadspin | Kurt Kitayama scares 59, ties course record at 3M Open

JULY 26 • DEADSPIN.COM

2025 3M Open Odds: Chris Gotterup, Sam Burns Tied Atop Board

The 3M Open tees off this week. Check out the latest odds, including the lines for two golfers tied at the top of the board.

JULY 22 • FOX SPORTS

Great ball-striking week Kitayama closed with a four-under 67 to finish in a share of fifth place at the John Deere Classic.

Impact The ball-striking was the key for Kitayama this week as he ranked second in SG: Off-the-Tee and seventh in SG: Approach. He was 51st in SG: Around and 50th in SG: Putting, however. If Kitayama was a little cleaner in those two areas he might have made it two wins on the PGA Tour. Nevertheless, he will still take this finish after how tough the year has been. This T5 and the T5 at the Byron Nelson in early May are the only finishes all season inside the top-20. Kitayama will not play either event next week and sits 110th in the FedExCup standings.

JULY 7 • ROTOWIRE

T51 at Rocket Classic Kitayama closed with an even-par 72 on Sunday at the Rocket Classic to finish 10-under and tied for 51st.

Impact Kitayama's final round at Detroit Golf Club was highlighted by an eagle on the par-4 second hole, where he holed his approach shot from 149 yards out in the rough. He ultimately gained 5.9 strokes with his ball striking throughout the Rocket Classic, though he lost a collective 5.2 strokes on and around the greens. Kitayama rises just one spot to No. 131 in the FedExCup standings ahead of the upcoming John Deere Classic.

JUNE 30 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles in final round Kitayama carded a three-over 73 in the final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge to finish tied for 22nd place.

Impact Kitayama began the day tied for seventh but was unable to get much going with only three birdies to go along with four bogeys and a double bogey to fall down the leaderboard. He was led by his short game this week, where he notably ranked second in SG: Around-the-green. Kitayama only has two top-25s this year, although both have come over his last three events.

MAY 27 • ROTOWIRE

See how players qualified for the PGA Championship

The field for the 107th PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club, which starts Thursday

MAY 6 • Associated Press

Much needed finish in Texas Kitayama carded a three-under 68 on Sunday at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson to finish in a share of fifth place.

Impact Kitayama thrived under the low scoring conditions at TPC Craig Ranch with four rounds of 68 or better, although he cooled off slightly after starting the tournament with rounds of 66-65. He was fueled by his all around play, gaining shots in every strokes gained category and was ninth in SG: Tee-to-green. It was a surprising result for Kitayama, whose best finish across 11 prior starts was T33.

MAY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles late to MC Kitayama and Collin Morikawa posted a two-day total of eight-under at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans to miss the cut by two strokes.

Impact Kitayama and Morikawa seemed to be safely inside the cut line in the second round but Kitayama hit two tee shots in the water on the back-nine that led to the duo missing the weekend. Following a strong finish to 2024, Kitayama has been unable to replicate that success this year as he's missed six cuts in 11 events with a best result of T33 at THE PLAYERS.

APRIL 28 • ROTOWIRE

Masters champion Rory McIlory and teammate Shane Lowry 6 back in Zurich Classic title defense

Rory McIlroy, playing for the first time since winning the Masters, teamed with Shane Lowry to shoot an 8-under 64 in better-play Thursday in the Zurich Classic, leaving the Irish...

APRIL 25 • Associated Press

Misses cut in Mexico Kitayama carded a two-day total of one-under at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld to miss the cut by two strokes.

Impact Kitayama entered the week as one of the betting favorites, but he was unable to stay out of trouble with seven bogeys across 36 holes at the easy venue to miss out on the weekend. His struggles were primarily with his putter, as he lost 4.8 strokes on the greens over the two rounds. Kitayama has a best finish of T37 in five tournaments this year.

FEBRUARY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Second straight top-10 Kitayama finished in solo fifth place at the ZOZO Championship after shooting a five-under 65 in the final round.

Impact Kitayama got off to a bit of a slow start on Sunday at one-over through his first five holes. He would then reel off three straight birdies and add birdies on three of the final five holes to lock up his best finish of the year. The signs were apparent that Kitayama was going to have a strong week after finishing top-25 in three of his previous four starts. His iron play has been so strong and he will hope to continue that throughout the rest of the fall.

OCTOBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Continues to play well Kitayama posted a two-under 69 on Sunday at the Shriners Children's Open to finish in a share of ninth place.

Impact Kitayama found himself four back heading into the final round and got off to a good start with a bogey-free front-nine that included three birdies. However, he dropped shots on the 10th and 12th holes to essentially end any hopes of challenging the lead. Kitayama had an excellent week with his ball striking, leading the field in SG: Tee to green and was second in approach. It's his second top-10 finish over his last four starts.

OCTOBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Gary Woodland with a 65 in Las Vegas is in contention for the first time since brain surgery

Gary Woodland keeps feeling better and his game is starting to bear that out

OCTOBER 19, 2024 • Associated Press

Taylor Pendrith avoids biggest wind and stays in front in Las Vegas with a long day ahead

Strong wind with gusts approaching 50 mph caused a four-hour delay in the Shriners Children's Open in Las Vegas

OCTOBER 19, 2024 • Associated Press

Second in SG: APP at BDC Kitayama closed with a one-over 72 on Sunday at the Black Desert Championship to finish 13-under and tied for 25th.

Impact Kitayama ranked second among the field in SG: Approach as he gained a career-high 10.6 strokes with his irons in Utah, ultimately notching a top-25 finish in his first tournament appearance since a missed cut at the Wyndham Championship. He'll tee it up again this week at the Shriners Children's Open where he's 0-for-3 in cuts made since his TPC Summerlin debut in 2016.

OCTOBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Inches closer to playoffs Kitayama fired a five-under 66 in the final round of the 3M Open to finish in a tie for sixth place.

Impact Kitayama ended his tournament in style with an eagle on the 72nd hole to record his first top-10 finish since the WM Phoenix Open. He struggled with the putter this week at 56th in strokes gained, but was fifth in SG: Approach. Kitayama continues to inch his way toward the playoff cutline and now sits 73rd with just one more event to go. He'll need a solid showing at the Wyndham Championship to crack the top-70.

JULY 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

More consistent Kurt Kitayama returns to Bay Hill to defend - PGA TOUR ORLANDO, Fla. – Kurt Kitayama returns to Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge as a different player than the one who won last year’s Arnold...

MARCH 5, 2024 • PGATOUR.COM

T29 at The Sentry Kitayama fired a seven-under 66 on Sunday at The Sentry to finish 19-under and tied for 29th.

Impact Kitayama's week at Kapalua was highlighted by a bogey-free 64 in Round 2, but he also added an eagle on the par-5 18th hole during Sunday's final round. He finished the tournament ranked seventh among the field in SG: Approach and T12 in scrambling, though he still lost a collective 4.7 strokes on and around the greens. Kitayama plans to tee it up again this week at Waialae C.C. for the Sony Open in Hawaii where he tied for 73rd last year.

JANUARY 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

PGA Notebook: Dustin Johnson Lurking, Collin Morikawa Frustrated, Kurt Kitayama Pleased Last week’s LIV Golf winner bogeyed his last hole but otherwise had an opportunistic 67 to sit one back of the clubhouse leader and fellow L...

MAY 19, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Continues to play well Kitayama was defeated by Cameron Young 1 Up in the quarterfinals of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play on Saturday.

Impact Kitayama had an impressive showing in his debut at the match play event, outlasting Tony Finau and Adrian Meronk in a three-way playoff after each player went 2-1 during the group stage. From there, he dominated Andrew Putnam 6 & 5 to advance to the quarterfinals, where seven birdies wasn't enough to take down the eventual runner-up in Young. Kitayama continues to play solid golf following his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this month.

MARCH 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Scheffler, McIlroy at their best to reach Match Play semis

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy had to play some of their best golf just to reach the semifinals of the Dell Match Play

MARCH 25, 2023 • Associated Press

Round of 16: Scottie Scheffler charges late to top J.T. Poston; Cam Young, Kurt Kitayama post big wins Is there a place the reigning WGC-Technologies Match Play champion doesn’t feel at ease?

MARCH 25, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

How a shorter driver helped Kurt Kitayama win at Bay Hill Players often need time to get comfortable with new equipment, especially in the high-stress moments inherent to Sunday afternoons. Not Kurt...

MARCH 8, 2023 • PGATOUR.COM

Players has stacked field minus Woods, defending champ Smith

The Players Championship offers the biggest prize in golf for stroke play at $25 million

MARCH 7, 2023 • Associated Press

The Ranking: Tough Kurt Kitayama, the Book of James Hahn and Free Beer All things Arnie, its new champ and notes from around the golf world.

MARCH 6, 2023 • SACBEE.COM