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Defending 3M champ Kurt Kitayama hopes to tap into last year’s magic

Jessica Taylor - bharatmorningnews.com जुलाई 22, 2026

Foto : Jessica Taylor - bharatmorningnews.com

Defending 3M champ Kurt Kitayama hopes: ding 3M champ Kurt Kitayama Eyes Another Strong Finish Bharatmorningnews.com – Defending 3M champ Kurt Kitayama

Defending 3M champ Kurt Kitayama Eyes Another Strong Finish

Bharatmorningnews.com – Defending 3M champ Kurt Kitayama enters this week’s tournament with momentum building in the FedEx Cup playoff race. The American golfer is preparing to defend his title at the 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota, where he captured victory last year. His recent form has been impressive, with 11 consecutive made cuts and four top-10 finishes throughout the current season. A tie for second place at the prestigious Genesis Invitational has helped him climb to 32nd position in the FedEx Cup standings.

Reaching the Tour Championship remains within reach for Kitayama. The top 30 players following the first two playoff events will secure their spots in the season finale. This represents a significant improvement from his position last year when he arrived at TPC Twin Cities ranked 110th in points. His championship victory that week propelled him into the playoffs, where he ultimately finished just five positions outside the Tour Championship field.

Swing Adjustments and Course Familiarity

Yeah, just being able to finish the season that well and having that kind of roll into this year definitely helped because all year last year I was struggling. Felt like I was close though. Then for it to finally click after this week and then onwards kind of rolled into this season and help me get off to a good start.

The key to Kitayama’s breakthrough came during a crucial practice session. After the second round of last year’s tournament, he headed to the driving range searching for swing adjustments that might unlock his potential. What started as a simple practice session evolved into something more meaningful. He admitted he didn’t anticipate the changes would persist beyond that weekend, but the adjustments stuck and carried through to the present season.

Kitayama’s Saturday round of 60, finished 11-under-par, proved to be the turning point in his championship run. He narrowly made the cut before mounting an impressive charge up the leaderboard. A Sunday 65 sealed his comeback victory, adding another memorable moment to his career. His connection with the course extends beyond last year’s triumph, as he also tied for sixth place in the 2024 edition of the event.

His recent performances at the 3M Open have been exceptional. Kitayama has shot a combined 36 under par across his two starts at this venue. This consistency provides him with confidence heading into this year’s competition. He values having positive results to reference when his game feels less than optimal.

Yeah, it’s nice to know that I have good results here. To come back to a place that I’ve played well at definitely helps to fall back on what I’ve done in the past and know that even if the game doesn’t feel that good, that you can still play well.

Organizers have created an interesting pairing for the opening rounds. Defending 3M champ Kurt Kitayama will compete alongside PGA Tour rookie Jackson Koivun for the first two days of play. This arrangement adds personal significance to the tournament experience. Koivun’s caddie, David Flynn, shared multiple years as a teammate with Kitayama on the UNLV men’s golf team. Flynn now carries the bag for the former world No. 1 amateur golfer.

The connection between these players extends beyond professional relationships. Kitayama expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming practice rounds, noting how enjoyable it will be to see Flynn walking around the course. This familiarity between players and caddies creates a comfortable atmosphere as the tournament approaches. Defending 3M champ Kurt Kitayama appears ready to channel last year’s success into another strong performance on the Minnesota course.

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