KURT KITAYAMA - ELECTRIFYING!

JUL 27, 2025 - Kurt Kitayama turned the 3M Open into a weekend fireworks show and walked away with the trophy to prove it. With a jaw-dropping 60 on Saturday and a smooth 65 on Sunday, Kitayama finished at 23-under-par, holding off a packed leaderboard to win by a single shot over Sam Stevens. It was the kind of run that makes golf look easy...spoiler: it’s not.

The sparks flew early. On Sunday, Kitayama birdied six of his first eight holes, racing out to a front-nine 29. His wedges were dialed in, and he made it look automatic. But the real wow moment came on 14: staring down a tricky 7-iron from a fairway bunker, water short, he knocked it to two feet. Birdie and a little breathing room as that gutsy swing gave him a three-shot lead with four to play.

Even after a late bogey on 17, Kitayama stayed steady. He faced a nervy bunker shot on 18 but coolly played it out and two-putted to seal the win. Meanwhile, Sam Stevens made a strong run with a final-round 66, but his par on the birdie-able 18th hole left the door open for Kurt to close it shut.

And what a fun family win as his brother Daniel was on the bag, caddying for just the second time ever. How cool is that!

Kitayama’s ball-striking was next-level as he led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and racked up 20 birdies over the weekend, the most by a Tour winner in over 20 years. He leapt from 110th to 53rd in the FedEx Cup standings, punching his ticket to the Playoffs in style.

Not a bad return to the win column, considering that since his 1st win at the Arnold Palmer back in 2023 he has played in 57 Tour events and only racked up 5 Top-5 finishes but 19 missed cuts in that span.

5 FUN GOLFER FACTS ABOUT THE 2025 3M OPEN

• This is KITAYAMA'S 2nd PGA win in his 108th start at the age of 32 years, 6 months and 13 days

• As mentioned above, KITAYAMA'S 20 birdies are the most birdies or better made on the weekend by a Tour winner since 2003 (Previous was 19 by Hideki Matsuyama this year at the 2025 Sentry)

• Through the first 36 holes, KITAYAMA sat in a T44, but a career low 60 in the 3rd round jumped him up to a T3 which is the 2nd lowest 36 hole position for an eventual winner this season (1st: Joe Highsmith at the Cognizant Classic who went from T48 after 36 to win)

• Keep an eye on Sam Stevens as his runner up finish was his 3rd in his career and his 2nd of the season; and he led teh field in Strokes Gaines around the Green

• 54 hole leaders Thorbjorn Olesen (T14) and Akshay Bhatia (T25) combined for a 6-over in the final round.

4 FUN GOLFER FACTS ABOUT KURT KITAYAMA

• Despite standing only 5'7" tall, KITAYAMA ranks among the longest hitters on the Tour this season, averaging about 317.2 yards, with the longest drive at 374 yards; maybe he hits the long ball because of #2...

• his prodigious leg strength has earned him the nickname "Quadzilla" among fellow players

• KITAYAMA does hold a bit of superstitious traits as he has been known to always eat candy the night before  round

• Again, despite standing 5'7", KITAYAMA was a standout point guard on his high school basketball team, leading them to a sectional championship with 31 points in the title game