Latest news with #KurtKitayama
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Kitayama Ties Course Record, Wins 3M Open With Historic Weekend Surge
BLAINE, MINNESOTA - JULY 27: Kurt Kitayama of the United States poses with the Elemental Swing ... More trophy after putting in to win on the 18th green during the final round of the 3M Open 2025 at TPC Twin Cities on July 27, 2025 in Blaine, Minnesota. (Photo by) This year's 3M Open was record-setting, highlighted by two rounds of 60, one from Adam Svensson on Thursday and another from Kurt Kitayama on Saturday, who went on to win the tournament. After narrowly making the cut on Friday, Kitayama was on pace for a historic 59 when he found the bunker to the right of the 17th green, resulting in a bogey. A birdie on the 18th hole brought him back to a 60, tying the course record. Kitayama scorched the front nine at TPC Twin Cities, shooting a 28 in round three and a 29 in round four. His combined front-nine score across the weekend was a remarkable 13-under par. His 20 birdies over the final two rounds tied the highest two-round birdie total on the PGA Tour in the past 20 years. 'It feels amazing to come out on top. It's awesome,' Kitayama said. The win comes at a pivotal time for Kitayama. With just one tournament remaining before the PGA Tour Playoffs, he jumped 57 spots in the FedExCup standings to 53rd. That move secures his place in the St. Jude Championship. With a strong showing this week at the Wyndham Championship, Kitayama could also qualify for the BMW Championship at Caves Valley. BLAINE, MINNESOTA - JULY 27: Sam Stevens of the United States plays a shot from a bunker on the ... More first hole during the final round of the 3M Open 2025 at TPC Twin Cities on July 27, 2025 in Blaine, Minnesota. (Photo by) At the 3M Open, Kitayama ranked first in strokes gained: approach to the green and fourth in total feet of putts made. His season-long approach game, ranked 36th on tour, showed moderate improvement this week but it was his putting that made the biggest leap, skyrocketing from 152nd to 4th in strokes gained: putting. 'This tournament's amazing. I thought the fans were awesome. The course is in great shape. It's just a great venue, great atmosphere, great setup. I thought that last year, and it's a place I definitely want to keep coming back to,' Kitayama said. Other big movers from the 3M Open include Pierceson Coody and Sam Stevens. Coody tied for third and climbed 30 spots in the standings, putting him closer to securing his PGA Tour card. Stevens jumped 17 places into the top 30 in FedExCup points, making him exempt for the BMW Championship.
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Top shots from 2025 3M Open
Watch the best shots from the 2025 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities, where Kurt Kitayama earned his second career PGA Tour victory.
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Kitayama captures PGA 3M Open title with birdie weekend
BLAINE, MINNESOTA: Kurt Kitayama of the United States poses with 3M CEO Bill Brown, his wife Stephanie and the Elemental Swing trophy after his winning round during the final round of the 3M Open 2025 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. – AFP 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.' Kitayama also won in 2023 at Bay Hill but this time was even better with his brother as bagman. 'It's very special. It has been awesome having him on the bag,' Kitayama said. Kitayama jumped from 110th to 53rd in the season points chase ahead of next week's regular-season finale at Greensboro, ensuring his spot among the top 70 in points who advance to next month's FedEx Cup playoffs. Kitayama's stunning start put him on 23-under with a three-stroke lead at the turn. He birdied first on a putt from just inside six feet, the second on a tap-in after his approach landed inches from the hole and the third on a 22-foot putt. A tap-in birdie at the fifth, a 10-footer for birdie at six and a four-foot birdie putt completed the early surge. Kitayama found the deep left rough at 11 and made bogey, but answered with a six-foot birdie putt on 12 and restored his three-shot lead with a tap-in birdie at 14 after dropping his approach two feet from the hole. Stevens reeled off three birdies in a row to reach 22-under with a birdie putt from just inside five feet at the 16th and Kitayama's three-putt bogey at the par-three 17th sent the drama to the par-five 18th. Stevens found the rough on his first three shots but salvaged par to stay one back. Kitayama landed his second shot in a greenside bunker 60 feet from the hole but blasted out to 17 feet and two-putted for par and the victory. — AFP
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Sports betting roundup: Action on the baseball field picks up as MLB trade deadline approaches
Associated Press As the Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches, the action is picking up. On the soccer field, England beat Spain in a penalty shootout to win the Women's European Championship on Sunday. Trends of the Week On Sunday Night Baseball, the New York Mets completed a sweep of the San Francisco Giants with a 5-3 victory. At the BetMGM online sportsbook, 73% of the money was on the Mets (-125). In addition, the most bet player to hit a home run was Juan Soto (+425), and he homered in the seventh inning. The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to be the World Series favorite (+230) and are taking in the most money (25%). In the American League, the Detroit Tigers are the favorites to win the AL pennant at +350 and are taking in 20% of the money. Detroit is +850 to win the World Series. Upsets of the Week The Toronto Blue Jays were the most bet team on Sunday, both in terms of bets and money, at +100 against the Tigers. Detroit ended up routing Toronto 10-4. The loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Blue Jays. Even with the loss Sunday, Toronto has won eight of its last 10 games. England defeated Spain on penalty kicks to win Euro 2025 after the game finished 1-1. Going into the match, a draw was +270, with only 14% of the bets and 10% of the money on that outcome. England was +360 to win the game, while Spain was -130. On the PGA Tour, Kurt Kitayama won the 3M Open in Minnesota. He finished at 23 under, good for a one-shot victory. It was his second win on the PGA Tour. Kitayama was +4000 going into the event and took in just 1.4% of the bets and 1.3% of the money in pre-tournament outright winner betting. Coming Up College football is right around the corner and Texas is the favorite with odds at +500. The Longhorns are followed by Ohio State at +525, Georgia and Penn State at +700, and Oregon and Clemson at +900. ___ This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook. ___ AP sports: recommended Item 1 of 1
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
These PGA Tour players are on the FedEx Cup Playoffs bubble with 1 regular-season event left
There is only one regular-season event left in the 2025 PGA Tour season, meaning the FedEx Cup Playoffs begin next week. That means the race for the playoffs is in full gear, as players jockey for spots in the top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings to secure a spot in the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee. This is the third year only 70 players reach the first playoff event, unlike previous years when 125 made the playoffs. The top-50 players after the FedEx St. Jude Championship from Aug. 7-10 will qualify for the BMW Championship at Caves Valley from Aug. 14-17 in Maryland, then the top 30 will head to Atlanta and East Lake for the Tour Championship from Aug. 21-24. At the 3M Open, Kurt Kitayama soared up the FedEx Cup rankings to No. 53 after securing his second PGA Tour victory. However, others on the bubble have work to do at the Wyndham Championship if they want to make the playoffs. Here's a closer look at some interesting names in the FedEx Cup points standings, including some who have work to do to stay in the top 70 and others who need to make a push to reach Memphis next week. FedEx Cup Playoffs standings before Wyndham Championship Matti Schmid becomes bubble boy at No. 70 and only five points in front of Nicolai Hojgaard, the first person outside. At minimum, Schmid needs to earn more points than Hojgaard to stay in front of him next week. But, someone is going to make a run from outside the number. Can Schmid retain his spot? A few big names outside of the top 70, including Keith Mitchell, Chris Kirk, Gary Woodland and Adam Scott, who is 150 points behind the cutoff. He has only missed the FedEx Cup Playoffs once in his career. He's going to need a top finish at the Wyndham Championship to make it to Memphis.
