Kitayama crowned at the 3M Open: Victory with 65 strokes and playoffs secured

Kurt Kitayama Wins the 3M Open with a Spectacular Final Round

Kurt Kitayama capped off a dream weekend with a final round of 65 strokes, securing the victory at the 3M Open. The golfer edged out Sam Stevens by a single stroke, achieving his second win on the PGA Tour. Kitayama, after tying the tournament record with an impressive round of 60 strokes on Saturday, started the final day with six birdies in the first eight holes, solidifying his lead on a hot day at TPC Twin Cities.

“Starting like this helps calm the nerves,” Kitayama commented. “In the final round, in the penultimate group, there’s definitely some tension.”

Kurt Kitayama

Despite a bogey on the 17th hole for the third consecutive day, Kitayama remained calm. Stevens, playing one group ahead, failed to birdie on the 18th hole, which benefited Kitayama. After sending his approach to the green bunker on the final hole, Kitayama made a safe shot from 18 feet and secured par with two putts, finishing with a total of 23 under par, 261 strokes. His older brother, Daniel, acted as caddie for the second time this season.

Kitayama, who had already won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in 2023, added 500 points in the FedEx Cup standings, moving up to the top 70 and securing his place in the playoffs. He was projected to move from 110th to 53rd. Matt Wallace, David Lipsky, Pierceson Coody, and Jake Knapp shared third place, three strokes behind the leader. Kitayama, who tied for sixth place at last year’s 3M Open, has had ups and downs this season, with seven missed cuts. This victory will boost his world ranking from 97th to 39th. The 32-year-old golfer, originally from Chico, California, demonstrated impeccable approach play. On the 14th hole, from a fairway bunker, he placed his 7-iron shot less than 2 feet from the hole, achieving his 20th birdie of the weekend, the most in a PGA Tour event since 2003. Stevens made five birdies on the second half of the course, continuing a solid season that includes three top-three finishes. Stevens, 29, is still looking for his first victory, but this result catapults him from 44th to 29th in the FedEx Cup, with one event remaining in the regular season.

“With Kurt playing 29 on the front nine, I thought I could play more freely and aggressively,” Stevens said. “I didn’t feel many nerves on the back nine, which is good. I’m usually very nervous, so I had a lot of peace today.”

Sam Stevens

Knapp, playing with Stevens, was in the fight until his second shot on the 18th hole ended up in the water, resulting in his only bogey of the day and his third top-five of the year. Akshay Bhatia and Thorbjorn Olesen, leaders at the start of Sunday, had a disappointing final day. Bhatia signed a card of 75 strokes and tied for 25th place, while Olesen recorded 73 strokes and finished in a tie for 14th place. Adam Svensson, who tied the course record with a 60 on Thursday, recovered from a 75 on Friday with rounds of 68 and 65 on the weekend.