Kurt Kitayama
Kurt Kitayama grew up in Chico, California and played collegiate golf at UNLV before turning pro in 2015. His early career included wins on the Asian Development Tour and two European Tour titles by 2019. He earned his first PGA Tour victory in March 2023 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. In July 2025, he won the 3M Open for his second PGA Tour title.
Kurt’s parents are Clifford and Rumiko Kitayama and his brother Daniel also plays golf and has caddied for him. His mother Rumiko was born in Japan and his father Clifford is Asian‑American from California. Kurt is not married and has no children, according to public records. His family supported his athletic start from age five, shaping his golf journey early on.
Kurt Kitayama’s Biggest Win on Tour
Kurt Kitayama’s most dramatic PGA Tour victory came at the 2025 3M Open, where he finished at 23 under par. He electrified the weekend with rounds of 60 and 65, including 20 birdies across the final two rounds. A defining moment occurred at the par‑4 14th hole on Sunday with a clutch 7‑iron shot from a bunker. That execution sealed his second PGA Tour title and boosted him into the FedEx Cup playoffs.
The 3M Open victory surpassed his earlier PGA Tour win at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational. His weekend scoring tied the tournament record with a 60 followed by a 65. Kitayama earned $1.5 million and rose significantly in FedEx Cup standings. This triumph stands as the pinnacle of his PGA Tour career to date.
Kurt Kitayama’s Golf Equipment and Sponsorships
Kurt Kitayama plays a Titleist GT3 driver, set at roughly 11°, fitted with Graphite Design Tour AD VF shaft. His fairway woods are Titleist GT1, both 3‑wood and 7‑wood, on Tour AD DI shafts. He uses TaylorMade irons—P7CB and P7MB—from 4‑iron through pitching wedge. His wedges are Titleist Vokey SM10 and Vokey WedgeWorks 60‑degree, all with Dynamic Gold Tour shafts.
His putter is a Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype in clean studio‑style finish. He plays Bridgestone Tour B X or B XS Mindset golf balls under a Team Bridgestone sponsorship. He formerly was a TaylorMade staff player but now is equipment‑free apart from ball contract. His apparel sponsor is Chervò, represented by him since winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational.