Kurt Kitayama

Kurt Kitayama's Early Life and Background

Current PGA Tour golfer Kurt Kitayam is from the USA and was born on January 14, 1993. Approximately 87 miles north of Sacramento, in Chico, California, Kitayama was born and completed his high school education there in 2011.

Despite his small stature (5 feet 7 inches), he was the basketball team's starting point guard and senior co-captain, helping the Panthers to a 27-2 record and the 2011 California Northern Section title.

Kitayama led Chico to a 67-54 victory over Pleasant Valley High School, the city rival, in the championship game with 31 points and six assists. Daniel, Kitayama's older brother, attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo to play golf in 2007 and 2008. He then went on to become a professional caddie.

Kurt Kitayama's Amateur Golf Career

At the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, South Course, San Diego, California, Kitayama tied for third place in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, 15–17 age group, in 2009, against an international field that included Bryson DeChambeau. Kitayama was named the Junior Golf Association of Northern California's 2009 Player of the Year.

Following high school, Kitayama studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he was selected three times in a row for the Academic All-Mountain West team. He attended the school from 2011 to 2015. He was the winner of the Primm, Nevada, Jackrabbit Invitational in both 2014 and 2015. In the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Kitayama's best position was 47th.

Kurt Kitayama's Professional Career

In 2015, Kitayama became a professional, and by 2017, his Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) were No. 1174. His current world ranking is No. 30. He had primarily performed on the Web.com Tour in 2016 and 2017, with little success. Kitayama primarily performed on the Asian Tour in 2018.

Kitayama participated in and won the PGM Darulaman Championship in Malaysia, the only Asian Development Tour event he played in. During his time on the Asian Tour, he tied for fourth in the New Zealand Open, finished joint runner-up in the Royal Cup, and tied for fourth in the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup Golf, which was co-sponsored by the Japan Golf Tour.

After finishing third in the European Tour Q-School in November 2018, Kitayama was granted a spot on the 2019 European Tour. In late 2018, he emerged victorious by two strokes at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, only the second tournament of the year. The Sunshine Tour and the Asian Tour both contributed to the event's sponsorship. He shot up into the top 200 worldwide rankings with this victory.

In March 2019, after winning the Oman Open in just his 11th career appearance, he became the fastest player in European Tour history to have two victories. In September 2021, Kitayama earned a spot on the PGA Tour by finishing 23rd in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. He finished in third place at the Honda Classic in February 2022. He outperformed himself in May 2022, finishing in T2 at the Mexico Open.

Kitayama won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March 2023, his first PGA Tour victory. With a commanding score of -9, he won the event and took home a sizeable $3,600,000 in prize money.

On January 15, Kitayama finished T73 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. On February 5, he finished T29 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. On April 23, he finished T19 at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans.

Kitayama earned $720,000 for his outstanding performance on May 21st at the PGA Championship, where he tied for fourth place with a score of -3. He then finished on T16 on October 22nd at the ZOZO Championship and on T5 on March 26th at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.

Kurt Kitayama's Playing Style

Professional golfer Kitayama is renowned for his versatile game that blends accuracy and force on the greens. Kitayama has shown remarkable flexibility and versatility in his game by proving his ability to maneuver around a variety of golf course types. His fluid motion and balanced approach to swinging allow him to generate significant power without sacrificing control.

Kitayama's overall effectiveness on the golf course is influenced by his proficiency in both the long and short games. His ability to make strategic decisions and remain composed under duress further shows his all-around playing style. Kitayama is a formidable player in any tournament due to his well-rounded skill set. His accuracy off the tee combined with his precise touch on the greens make him a threat to score low on any course.

Kitayama's versatility enables him to maneuver around the course with ease, even when confronted with tight fairways or difficult pin placements. In the professional golf scene, Kitayama has established himself as a formidable competitor thanks to his steady play and composure under pressure.

Kurt Kitayama's Golf Journey

American professional golfer Kitayama currently plays on the PGA Tour. Kitayama led his high school basketball team to a 27-2 record and the 2011 California Northern Section championship as the starting point guard.

2011 saw Kitayama graduate from high school and pursue higher education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he was named to the Academic All-Mountain West team three times in a row. He was quite successful in his amateur golf career, winning the Primm, Nevada, Jackrabbit Invitational in 2014 and 2015.

After going professional in 2015, Kitayama encountered some difficulties on tours such as the Asian Tour and Web.com. But in 2018, a victory at the PGM Darulaman Championship in Malaysia signaled a breakthrough. Following his Oman Open victory, he made history in March 2019 by becoming the fastest player to win two tournaments on the European Tour.

Kitayama qualified for the PGA Tour in September 2021. By 2022, he was putting up strong performances, placing third at the Honda Classic and second at the Mexico Open. The apex of his career was reached in March 2023, when he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his first PGA Tour title.

Kitayama finished T73 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, T29 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and T19 at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans in 2023, among other notable finishes, suggesting that he maintained his competitiveness. Kitayama finished T16 at the ZOZO Championship in October.

Kurt Kitayama's Achievements

Kurt Kitayama has a stellar record of 34 cuts, one win, and 66 events played on the PGA Tour. His international achievements include three victories. Kitayama has finished in the top 5 and top 10 seven times in each category, with one third-place finish, three runner-up finishes, and consistent excellence in the game of professional golf.

Kurt Kitayama's Majors

Kurt Kitayama's International Wins

Kurt Kitayama's Net Worth

The net worth of Kurt Kitayama is estimated to be $2 million as of December 2023. Kurt Kitayama is a professional golfer who has earned a substantial income primarily from tournament winnings.

Even though exact numbers might change from year to year, Kitayama's earnings have surely increased as a result of his steady performance in tournaments.

Kitayam's total career earnings, according to Spotrac, are $9,560,878, and as of December 2023, he had earned $6,840,062, a substantial amount in comparison to his $2,522,567 season earnings from 2022. His victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational contributed to his $3,600,000 in earnings this year.

Kurt Kitayama's Ventures

Luxury Italian apparel brand Chervò signed an endorsement deal with Kitayama; this happened reportedly after Kitayama's win at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour.

Several professional golfers, such as Noemi Jimenez Martin of the Ladies European Tour and Johannes Veerman of the DP World Tour, wear the clothing line, including Kitayama. He reportedly has an endorsement deal with Taylor Made as well.

Kurt Kitayama's Assets

There is no information available about the assets of Kitayama.

Kurt Kitayama's Family

Rumiko and Clifford Kitayama gave birth to Kitayama on January 14, 1993. Living in Chico, California, he grew up next to his elder brother, Daniel. Since he began playing golf at the age of five, Kitayama's parents have been supporting him. Regarding Rumiko, not much information is available.

In January 1980, Clifford—a well-known entomologist in California—founded Scientific Methods, a consulting firm for agriculture. The California Department of Agriculture's Innovative Program Award was given to Scientific Methods in 2013.

In December 2014, he founded Kitayama Ag. Services, a stand-alone agricultural consulting business, after quitting Scientific Methods. Clifford's profile on LinkedIn says:

“Kitayama Ag Services provides monitoring of insects, diseases, and weeds and makes recommendations as necessary to produce an optimal crop with minimal risk and cost. Being independent allows us to be unencumbered with having to make biased recommendations tied to specific chemicals or chemical dealers.”

Kurt Kitayama's Father

Clifford Kitayama is the father of Kurt Kitayama. In January 1980, Clifford, a well-known entomologist in California, established Scientific Methods, an agricultural consulting company.

To provide the best crop recommendations with the least amount of risk and expense, he founded Kitayama Ag Services in December 2014—an independent agricultural consulting company.

Kurt Kitayama's Mother

Rumiko Kitayama is the mother of Kiyama. Although Rumiko Kitayama's details are not available, it is mentioned that she has encouraged him to pursue his golf career since he started at the age of five, along with his father, Clifford.

Kurt Kitayama's Wife

As of 2023, Kurt Kitayama is unmarried and there are no reports of him dating or having a girlfriend.

Kurt Kitayama's Cars

There is no information available about the car collection of Kitayama.