Kurt Kitayama Player Profile And What's In The Bag
By: Golfshake Editor | Mon 06 Mar 2023
Bay Hill provided its typically dramatic challenge for many of the world's best golfers, but it was Kurt Kitayama who held on to survive and clinch the Arnold Palmer Invitational - beating a pack of famous names to claim his maiden victory on the PGA Tour.
The 30-year-old American has taken a lengthy and diverse journey to reach this stage and this success takes him to 19th in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Such is the test presented by this tough layout, a level-par 72 was enough for Kitayama to triumph ahead of the likes of Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, Tyrrell Hatton and Viktor Hovland.
Player Profile
Born in Chico, California, Kitayama was a gifted young amateur, but his early professional appearances on the Web.com Tour were largely unsuccessful.
Consequently, he spent much of 2018 on the Asian Tour, before earning his spot on the European Tour for the 2019 season after making it through Q-School.
It was on this circuit that he made his name - winning the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in just his second start. It didn't take him long to secure a second title (indeed, this was in record time) at the Oman Open.
Returning to the United States, Kitayama earned his PGA Tour card by finishing 23rd in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals in September 2021.
And now he is the winner of a designated event and will make his Masters Tournament debut in April.
Last 10 Events
Arnold Palmer Invitational - 1st
The Genesis Invitational - CUT
WM Phoenix Open - T23rd
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - T29th
Farmers Insurance Open - CUT
Sony Open in Hawaii - T73rd
DP World Tour Championship - T42nd
The CJ Cup in South Carolina - 2nd
ZoZo Championship - T29th
Shriners Children's Open - CUT
Key Stats (PGA Tour: 2022/23)
Driving Distance - 307.8 Yards
Driving Accuracy - 54.22%
Greens in Regulation - 67.96%
Sand Saves - 62.79%
Putts Per Round - 29.00
Scoring Average - 70.142
End of Year World Ranking Position
2020: 133
2021: 250
2022: 42
What's In Kurt Kitayama's Bag?
- TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus 10.5° Driver
- TaylorMade Stealth 2 16.5° 3-Wood
- TaylorMade Stealth 2 21.0° 7-Wood
- TaylorMade P·7MC 4-6
- TaylorMade P·7MB 7-PW
- TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 52° SB, 56° LB
- TaylorMade Spider X Hydro Blast Flow Neck
- TP5x
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Tags: WITB Tour Pro player profile in the bag
