2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational: Top 10 power rankings at Bay Hill
OWGR: 37th. FedEx Cup: 57th. Kurt Kitayama. ArnoldPalmerInvitational/PowerRank/9. 9
Kurt Kitayama put on a show in 2023 in his debut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Especially so in the first two rounds. When most in the field were struggling to break par, Kitayama fired 9-under with rounds of 67-68 to take a two-shot lead into the weekend.
He had to battle in the final two rounds as tough conditions got tougher and pressure mounted. Rounds of 72-72 were enough to get the job done. Kitayama showed his mettle by making two birdies in his final three holes on Sunday to hang on for a one-shot victory over Rory McIlroy and Harris English. Six more players were within three shots.
Kitayama was third in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (5.618), 18th in SG: Around-the-Green (2.125), and 19th in SG: Approach (3.246).
This didn’t prove to be a springboard moment for Kitayama to become a household name, but he’s still played some good golf in the interim. Shortly after the API, Kitayama made a run to the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play (RIP) quarterfinals.
He also posted his career-best finish in a major championship with T-4th at the PGA Championship.
The 31-year-old UNLV graduate hasn’t finished outside the top 40 in five starts in 2024. He comes into this week off of a week of rest following T-39th at the Genesis Invitational.
Kitayama took T-8th at the WM Phoenix Open.
He’s 31st on the PGA Tour in SG: Total (.824). That’s aided by ranks of 24th in SG: Tee-to-Green (.953) and 20th in SG: Approach (.625).