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NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Kurt Kitayama turned in a record round on Sunday. Now has must wait and see if it’s enough.
Kitayama, beginning his day outside the top 60 and teeing off six hours ahead of the final paring, made seven birdies—including at the 18th—and went bogey free for a final-round 63. If that sounds good, it is, as it tied the major championship record for the lowest score in a final round.
“It’s nice to end on a birdie and have a round like that especially when it’s so bunched up,” Kitayama said to ESPN after the round. “You move a lot when you make a birdie
At the time of finishing, Kitayama had jumped 57 spots on the board into T-7 at three under, six three back of 54-hole leader Alex Smalley. With more than 20 players within four shots of the lead, it’s likely Kitayama’s round won’t hold up among the leaders.
However, as we witnessed on Saturday at Aronimink, the afternoon can bring stronger wind and higher scores. Smalley has never won a PGA Tour or DP World Tour title, and only Jon Rahm has won a major at the group at four under.
Kitayama only has one career major top 10, but he entered Philadelphia playing well with two top 10s in signature events in the past month.
It is the 21st round of 63 or better in the PGA Championship. The last player to shot at 63 in the final round of a major was Tommy Fleetwood, who did it twice (2023 U.S. Open, 2018 U.S. Open). Xander Schauffele and Shane Lowry hold the overall PGA record with 62.
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Kitayama, beginning his day outside the top 60 and teeing off six hours ahead of the final paring, made seven birdies—including at the 18th—and went bogey free for a final-round 63. If that sounds good, it is, as it tied the major championship record for the lowest score in a final round.
“It’s nice to end on a birdie and have a round like that especially when it’s so bunched up,” Kitayama said to ESPN after the round. “You move a lot when you make a birdie
At the time of finishing, Kitayama had jumped 57 spots on the board into T-7 at three under, six three back of 54-hole leader Alex Smalley. With more than 20 players within four shots of the lead, it’s likely Kitayama’s round won’t hold up among the leaders.
However, as we witnessed on Saturday at Aronimink, the afternoon can bring stronger wind and higher scores. Smalley has never won a PGA Tour or DP World Tour title, and only Jon Rahm has won a major at the group at four under.
Kitayama only has one career major top 10, but he entered Philadelphia playing well with two top 10s in signature events in the past month.
It is the 21st round of 63 or better in the PGA Championship. The last player to shot at 63 in the final round of a major was Tommy Fleetwood, who did it twice (2023 U.S. Open, 2018 U.S. Open). Xander Schauffele and Shane Lowry hold the overall PGA record with 62.
Continue reading...
