Kurt Kitayama is a talented American professional golfer who has made a name for himself in the world of golf. Born on January 14, 1993, in Chico, California, Kitayama attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he played collegiate golf for the UNLV Rebels. He turned professional in 2015 and began playing on the Asian Tour, where he quickly established himself as a rising star. Since then, Kitayama has competed in numerous golf tournaments around the world and has earned several notable victories, including the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open and the Oman Open. His impressive skills on the course and his dedication to the sport have earned him recognition and respect from fellow golfers and fans alike. With a promising career ahead of him, Kitayama is a golfer to watch in the coming years.
In this blog post, we will discuss Kurt Kitayama net worth with his golf career, winnings, and many other amazing facts about his personal life.
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Table of Contents
Short Bio of Kitayama
| Official Name | Kurt Shun Kitayama |
| Nick Name | The Project |
| Father | Clifford Kitayama |
| Mother | Rumico Kitayama |
| Born | January 14, 1993 |
| Place of Birth | Chico, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5’7” |
| Weight | 170Ib |
| Siblings | Brother – Daniel Kitayama |
| Profession | Golfer |
After college, Kitayama turned professional and began playing on the Asian Development Tour, where he had some success. In 2018, he won his first professional tournament at the Bangladesh Open, which earned him a spot on the Asian Tour.
Kitayama continued to excel on the Asian Tour, winning two more events in 2018 and finishing the year as the tour’s Rookie of the Year. He also played in several European Tour events, and in 2019 he won his first European Tour event at the Oman Open.
Kitayama’s success on the Asian and European Tours earned him a spot on the PGA Tour in 2020, where he played in several events before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has since continued to play on the European Tour, where he has had several top-10 finishes.
Kitayama is known for his consistent ball striking and accuracy on the course, as well as his quiet and focused demeanor. He is considered one of the rising stars in professional golf and is expected to continue to have success on the global stage.
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Early Life Of Kurt
He attended Chico High School between 87 miles north of Sacramento, California, where he graduated in 2011. Despite his small stature just only 5′-6″, he was co-captain and starting point guard for the basketball team as a senior, however, In 2011, he led the Panthers to a 27-2 record and the California Northern Section championship. Chico High School beat Pleasant Valley High School, 67-54, in the Championship Game thanks to his 31 points and six assists. His older brother Daniel played golf for the University of Hawaii at Hilo between 2007 and 2008, and he later worked as a professional caddie.
Golf Career of Kurt Kitayama
Name of Golf Tournaments Kurt participated
College Golf:
University of Nevada – Las Vegas
Former Tours:
- Asian Tour
- Web Com Tour
- PGA Tour Canada
- PGA Tour China
- Asian Development Tour
Present Golf Events
- PGA Tour
- European Tour
Achievements in Amateur career
Before turning professional, Kitayama had a successful amateur career that helped him hone his skills and gain valuable experience on the golf courses. Kitayama was named the 2009 Player of the Year by The Junior Golf Association of Northern California after finishing tied for 3rd place in the 15-17 age category at the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships held at Torrey Pines, South Course, San Diego, California in 2008. He competed against a global field that included Bryson DeChambeau.
Following his graduation from high school, he enrolled at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where he studied from 2011 to 2015. During his time at the university, he was recognized for his academic achievements and was named to the Academic All-Mountain West team for three consecutive years. In addition to his academic success, Kitayama also showcased his golfing prowess, winning the Jackrabbit Invitational held in Primm, Nevada, both in 2014 and 2015.
Kitayama was 47th in the world amateur golf ranking.
Achievements in Professional Career
In 2015, Kitayama began his professional golfing career. He predominantly competed on the Web.com Tour in 2016 and 2017 but achieved limited success during this time. At the end of 2017, Kitayama was positioned at 1174 in the global rankings.
During 2018, he primarily competed in the Asian Tour, while also participating in a single Asian Development Tour event, the PGM Darulaman Championship held in Malaysia, in which he emerged as the winner. He secured notable placements on the Asian Tour, such as tied for fourth in the New Zealand Open, joint runner-up in the Royal Cup, and joint fourth in the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup Golf, which was co-sanctioned with the Japan Golf Tour.
By November 2018, he also secured a tied third-place finish in the European Tour Q-School, thus securing a spot on the 2019 European Tour. In late 2018, during the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, which was co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour and the Asian Tour, he emerged victorious by a margin of two strokes, just in his second event of the season. This win propelled him into the top 200 positions in the world rankings.
By March 2019, he became the fastest player to achieve two wins in the history of the European Tour, clinching the Oman Open title in only his 11th appearance. Subsequently, in September 2021, Kurt earned his PGA Tour card by concluding at the 23rd spot in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.
Kurt also achieved a commendable third-place finish at The Honda Classic in February 2022. He further improved his performance in May 2022, securing a T2 placement at the Mexico Open.
Kitayama secured his inaugural PGA Tour triumph in March 2023 by winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational. It is the first and most prestigious winning of his golf career.
On March 5, 2023, he got his career highest ranking #19.
Kurt’s winnings tournaments
| Name of the golf event | No. of winnings |
| PGA Tour | 1 |
| European Tour | 2 |
| Asian Tour | 1 |
| Sunshine Tour | 1 |
| Others | 1 |
Kitayama’s winning positions at the Majors
| Major Tournament | Winning Position | Year |
| Master Tournament | DNP | |
| PGA Championship | T51 | 2020 |
| The U.S. Open | CUT | 2020, 2022 |
| The Open Championship | T72 | 2022 |
FAQs
How old is Kitayama?
Kitayama is now 30 yrs old because he was born on January 14, 1993.
What is the ethnicity of Kurt Kitayama?
Kurt Kitayama’s ethnicity is American-Japanese.
Who is the caddie of Kitayama?
Kurt Kitayama, an American golfer, surprised many at the beginning of 2023 when he enlisted the services of Tim Tucker as his caddie. Tucker, known for his successful partnership with Bryson DeChambeau, was brought on board through family connections after Kitayama parted ways with his previous caddie at Pebble. The chance encounter at the WM Phoenix Open led to the decision to work together, which paid off immediately. Kitayama overcame a strong field at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational, despite a triple-bogey 7 during the final round, with Tucker on the bag. It was a remarkable success for the new duo.
What are Kurt Kitayama’s career earnings?
Up to September 2021, Kurt’s golf career earnings on the PGA Tour were $1,361,755. However, this figure may have changed since then as he continues to compete in professional golf tournaments. It’s worth noting that this figure only reflects his earnings on the PGA Tour and does not include earnings from other professional golf tours or sponsorships.
Who won the Arnold Palmer golf event?
Here are the winners of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament in the past several years:
- 2023: Kurt Kitayama
- 2022: Scottie Scheffler
- 2021: Bryson DeChambeau
- 2020: Tyrrell Hatton
- 2019: Francesco Molinari
- 2018: Rory McIlroy
- 2017: Marc Leishman
- 2016: Jason Day
- 2015: Matt Every
- 2014: Matt Every
- 2013: Tiger Woods
- 2012: Tiger Woods
These are just some of the more recent winners, and there have been many other talented golfers who have won the Arnold Palmer Invitational over the years. The tournament is one of the most prestigious events on the PGA Tour and attracts some of the best golfers in the world.
What is Kurt Kitayama’s net worth?
According to famous golf magazines, Forbes, Business Insider, and Wikipedia, Kitayama’s net is around $5 million.
What were the Kitayama and Higashiyama cultures during the Muromachi period?
During the Muromachi period in Japan, which lasted from 1336 to 1573, two major cultural movements emerged: the Kitayama culture and the Higashiyama culture.
The Kitayama culture was named after the northern Kyoto district where the Ashikaga shoguns established their capital. This period is known for its emphasis on elegant aesthetics, refined artistic pursuits, and courtly culture. Kitayama culture was characterized by the patronage of the Ashikaga shoguns, who supported the development of arts and culture, including Noh theater, tea ceremony, and landscape gardening.
In contrast, the Higashiyama culture emerged in the later part of the Muromachi period and was centered in the eastern part of Kyoto. Higashiyama culture is known for its more understated and introspective aesthetics, which reflected the growing influence of Zen Buddhism on Japanese culture. The Higashiyama period is also associated with the rise of the tea ceremony, which emphasized the importance of mindfulness, simplicity, and aesthetic appreciation.
Overall, both Kitayama and Higashiyama cultures were influential in shaping Japanese aesthetics, and their legacies can still be seen in contemporary Japanese culture today.
Kurt Kitayama’s second European Tour win | 2019 Oman Open
Conclusion
Kurt Kitayama has had a promising start to his golfing career, showing consistent improvement and a strong work ethic. He has established himself as a talented and promising golfer, both on the domestic and international stage. With victories on the European Tour and Asian Tour, Kitayama has demonstrated a remarkable ability to perform under pressure and compete with the world’s best golfers. His decision to enlist the services of Tim Tucker, a highly-regarded caddie, has already yielded positive results, with a win at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational. With his talent and dedication, Kitayama will likely continue to achieve success in the sport and potentially establish himself as a top contender in professional golf in the golfing world.