[Winner's Club] Kitayama Makes a Smart Choice with 3-Wood

Second Career Win at 3M Open After Two Years
Equipped with Titleist GT1 3 Tour 3-Wood
Perfect Tee Shot on Final 18th Hole of Last Day
Shallower Face, Lower Center of Gravity, Optimized Spin

It was a wise choice by Kurt Kitayama (USA).

On July 27 (local time), at TPC Twin Cities (par 71, 7,431 yards) in Blaine, Minnesota, USA, he claimed victory at the PGA Tour 3M Open (total prize money: $8.4 million). This marks his second career win, coming two years after his first victory at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational. The winner's prize is $1,512,000 (approximately 2.1 billion KRW).

Kurt Kitayama is waving his hand as he heads to the podium right after winning the 3M Open. Blaine, USA - AP Yonhap News

On the final day, he shot a 6-under-par 65, collecting eight birdies (with two bogeys). He reduced his score by six strokes over 17 holes to take the lead. On the final 18th hole (par 5), he chose a 3-wood instead of a driver. The club was a Titleist GT1 3 Tour (14.5 degrees). His tee shot flew 315 yards and landed precisely on the fairway. Ultimately, he saved par and secured a thrilling one-stroke victory.

The GT1 3 Tour, which he pulled from his caddie bag at the decisive moment, is a new club that combines both distance and forgiveness. It features a shallower face, a lower center of gravity, and optimized spin. Kitayama used this club for a clutch tee shot on the final hole. Kitayama said, "I felt my game was getting better and now I've finally seen the results. Up until the second round, I was just trying to make the cut, but in the third round, I found something in my swing, and it continued through today," he exclaimed.

<Clubs Used During 3M Open Victory>

Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees)

Fairway Woods: Titleist GT1 3 Tour (14.5 degrees), Titleist GT1 (21 degrees)

Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (#4), TaylorMade P7MB (#5-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52, 56 degrees), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60 degrees)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS *Source: PGA Tour