Kitayama captures PGA 3M Open title with big birdie weekend
CHICAGO: Kurt Kitayama birdied six of the first eight holes then hung on down the stretch to win the 3M Open on Sunday for his second career US PGA Tour title. With his older brother Daniel serving as his caddie, the 32-year-old American fired a six-under-par 65 to finish 72 holes on 23-under-par 261 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. That was good enough for a one-stroke victory over countryman Sam Stevens, who had five back-nine birdies to keep the pressure on Kitayama to the finish. “I feel like the game has been trending and for it to finally pay off now has been awesome,” said Kitayama, who was one off the 72-hole tournament record set by Lee Hodges in 2023. Kitayama, who fired a career-low 60 on Saturday after fighting to make the cut on Friday, sank 20 birdies in the final two rounds — the most by any PGA Tour winner since 2003. “On Friday I was like finding my swing and grinding to make the cut,” Kitayama said. “Went to the range to find something and obviously found something on Saturday and it continued today with that unbelievable start that I had. Just kind of went from there.”
