American professional golfer Kurt Kitayama has secured his second career PGA Tour victory, triumphing at the 2025 3M Open. Kitayama finished the tournament with an impressive total score of 261, 23 strokes under par, clinching the win by a single stroke over Sam Stevens. The victory, finalized on July 27, 2025, marks a significant milestone in Kitayama’s burgeoning career, adding to his 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational title.
Kitayama’s path to victory at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, was highlighted by a sensational third-round performance. On Saturday, July 26, he carded an extraordinary 11-under 60, a career-best and a score that tied the course record previously set by Adam Svensson earlier in the week. This remarkable round saw him make a significant leap up the leaderboard, positioning him just one shot behind the 54-hole co-leaders, Akshay Bhatia and Thorbjorn Olesen, heading into the final day. Kitayama’s third round included a blistering seven-under 28 on the front nine, featuring five consecutive birdies from holes 3 through 7. Despite a bogey on the par-3 17th, which momentarily dashed hopes of a 59, he closed with a birdie on the 18th, nearly holing out for an eagle. His rounds were 65, 71, 60, and 65, culminating in his winning total. The PGA Tour’s official leaderboard confirmed his leading position.
Reflecting on his exceptional Saturday round, Kitayama credited adjustments made with his coach, Chris Como. “Yesterday’s round felt like I didn’t have any control,” Kitayama stated, adding that working with Como helped him find something he could go with, which “kind of showed on the course.” He noted that his driving has improved, and he feels he is a more complete player than he was two years prior when he secured his first PGA Tour win. This insight underscores the strategic improvements that contributed to his success.
Born Kurt Shun Kitayama on January 14, 1993, in Chico, California, the 32-year-old golfer turned professional in 2015 after a collegiate career at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Standing at 5 feet 7 inches and weighing 170 pounds, Kitayama was also a standout basketball player in high school, leading his team to a California Northern Section Title in 2011. His professional journey saw him initially play on the Web.com Tour before finding significant success on the Asian Tour and European Tour. He claimed his first professional win at the PGM Darulaman Championship on the Asian Development Tour in January 2018. This was followed by two European Tour victories: the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in December 2018 and the Oman Open in March 2019, making him the fastest player to two wins in European Tour history at the time. He earned his PGA Tour card in September 2021 through the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.
Prior to his 3M Open triumph, Kitayama’s most notable PGA Tour achievement was his victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 5, 2023, where he won by one stroke. His career best Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) was 19th, achieved on March 5, 2023. As of July 20, 2025, he holds the 97th position in the OWGR. This latest victory at the 3M Open is expected to significantly boost his standing and momentum as the 2025 PGA Tour season progresses.
