With his brother on the bag, Kurt Kitayama fires career-low 60 Saturday at the 3M Open
Kurt Kitayama started the third round at the 2025 3M Open eight shots behind the 36-hole leader, Thorbjorn Olesen. He finished just before 1:30 p.m. ET with the outright lead, three strokes clear of the field.
After posting a 28 on the outward nine, he spent the entire back nine on 59 watch, but a bogey at the par-3 17th all but dashed Kitayama's hopes of joining that prestigious club. He walked to the tee at the par-5 18th needing eagle, and after his tee ball found the right rough, he decided to lay up and give himself a good chance for birdie.
"[My ball] was just like a foot in the rough and the lie was — I needed to be a foot in the first cut and I would have gone for it. It was just very questionable, 220 out, I didn't really know if it would jump out of there or maybe just dive. Had a good round going so that would have really stunk if it goes in the water there."
Still, he nearly salvaged the 59 with this shot into the green:
The 32-year-old California native ultimately signed for an 11-under 60 and entered the clubhouse at 17 under for the tournament after narrowly sneaking inside the 5-under cutline Friday.
"Yesterday's round felt like I didn't have any control," Kitayama said. "I hit some balls after, talked to my coach, Chris Como, and kind of worked through some things on the range. Felt like I found something that I could go with. And warming up today, felt pretty good and it kind of showed on the course. Yeah, was happy I was able to find that."
He might have felt comfortable warming up, but he certainly didn't think he'd be flirting with 59.
"I don't think you really have a number [in mind] going out into any round, just kind of take what you can get. You know, as it comes down the stretch, then the number kind of pops in your mind."
The number ended up being 60, which shatters his previous career low of 62, and according to the man himself, it's the best round he's ever played.
"Well, it's not only my Tour career best, it's like my personal best. Yeah, it means a lot, especially to have my brother on the bag. It's a really cool experience having that opportunity coming down the stretch. And yeah, it's good to have that momentum going into the final round."
Kitayama will now enter Sunday in prime position to capture his second career PGA Tour victory — his first of which came at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational. It's been somewhat of a slog for Kitayama in 2025. He has just four top 25 finishes in 18 starts and entered this week 110th in the race for the FedEx Cup.
Another solid round Sunday and he could be walking away in much better standing, which is vital given that next week's Wyndham Championship is the final regular season event on the PGA Tour's 2025 calendar. The FedEx Cup playoffs begin the following week at the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis.
Keep up with all the action from Saturday's third round at the 2025 3M Open with our live updates page.
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