Kurt Kitayama delivered a scorching weekend at the 2025 3M Open, securing his second PGA Tour victory with a final-round 6-under 65 on Sunday at TPC Twin Cities, finishing at 23-under 261 to edge out Sam Stevens by one stroke.
The 32-year-old from Chico, California, showcased exceptional ball-striking and composure to claim the $1.512 million purse and 500 FedEx Cup points, vaulting from 110th to 53rd in the standings and securing a spot in the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Kitayama’s path to victory began with a career-best 11-under 60 on Saturday, tying the course record set by Adam Svensson earlier in the week. The round included a blistering front-nine 28 with seven birdies, positioning him one shot behind co-leaders Akshay Bhatia and Thorbjorn Olesen entering Sunday.
Kitayama wasted no time in the final round, birdieing six of his first eight holes, including a chip-in at the third, to build a commanding lead with a front-nine 29.
“Getting off to a start like that kind of helps settle you down,” Kitayama said, acknowledging the nerves of playing in the second-to-last group.
Despite a bogey on the par-3 17th for the third consecutive day, which narrowed his lead to one, Kitayama held firm. On the par-5 18th, after finding a greenside bunker, he blasted out to 18 feet and two-putted for par to seal the win.
Kitayama’s 20 birdies over the weekend — the most in a PGA Tour event in over 20 years — highlighted his precision, particularly with his irons, where he gained nearly 10 strokes on the field. A standout moment came on the par-4 14th, where he stuck a 7-iron from a fairway bunker to within two feet for a tap-in birdie.
Stevens, finishing at 22-under with a final-round 66, mounted a strong challenge with five back-nine birdies but couldn’t capitalize on the reachable 18th, settling for second.
Matt Wallace, David Lipsky, Pierceson Coody, and Jake Knapp tied for third at 20-under, with Wallace and Lipsky posting the day’s best rounds of 64.
Co-leaders Bhatia and Olesen faltered, with Bhatia carding a 75 to finish T25 and Olesen a 73 to tie for 14th, derailing their hopes of a breakthrough win.
The victory was especially meaningful for Kitayama, who had his older brother, Daniel, caddying for only the second time this season.
“This win’s going to be extra special having him on the bag,” Kitayama said. “He helped me stay calm out there, make good decisions.”
The win marks a turnaround for Kitayama, who missed seven cuts this season but showed signs of resurgence with top-5 finishes at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and John Deere Classic. His previous PGA Tour win came at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational, and this triumph is projected to boost his world ranking from 97th to 39th.
With the PGA Tour regular season nearing its close, Kitayama’s 3M Open performance not only secures his playoff spot but positions him as a player to watch as the FedEx Cup Playoffs approach. The PGA Tour now heads to the Wyndham Championship, the final event before the postseason begins.
