Welcome back to another edition of The Sunday Swing presented by 2nd Swing Golf. This week the PGA Tour continues its Northern Swing, making its annual stop in Minnesota for the 3M Open from TPC Twin Cities. With just one event left on the regular season calendar, it represents one of the last opportunities for players to move inside the magic top-70 of the FedEx Cup standings.

Kurt Kitayama was one of the many players on the outside looking in heading into the 3M this year, entering at 110th in the standings. Kitayama would need to find something fast, as he has struggled for the majority of this season making just 10 of 18 cuts with only two top-10 finishes. The American took advantage of soft conditions and got off to a solid start, posting a 6-under round on Thursday. Meanwhile, Friday was more of a struggle for Kitayama, who at one point fell outside the cutline. He battled for an even-par 71 and would ultimately sneak inside the cutline by one stroke.

With the leaders well into double digits under par at the halfway point, Kitayama was an afterthought as play began on Saturday. However, Kitayama came out on fire and made seven birdies on the front nine to shoot 28. He added five birdies and a boegy on the back nine to shoot 11-under 60, tying the course record and vaulting himself to 17-under-par and just one shot behind the lead entering the final round.

The birdie run continued on Kitayama’s front nine of the final round. He made six birdies en route to a 29 that propelled him to three clear of the field at 23-under-par. With birdie machines like Jake Knapp and Sam Stevens, beginning to close in, Kitayama hit his best shot of the day from the fairway bunker on the par-4 14th. From 190 yards out, he hit a towering fade that landed and stopped within three feet of the hole, turning what could have easily become a bogey into a tap-in birdie.

Despite a three-putt bogey on the 17th, Kitayama was able to par the par-5 18th and win by one over Stevens for his second career PGA Tour victory, and his first since 2023. The win came in impressive fashion, as Kitayama came all the way back from barely making the cut to playing the final 36 holes in 17-under par to blitz the field and steal the trophy. Most importantly, Kitayama earned himself 500 FedEx Cup points which moved him from 110th all the way to 53rd, guaranteeing him a spot in the playoffs. 

Winner's Bag | Kurt Kitayama

Kurt Kitayama made 20 birdies over the weekend in the Twin Cities to secure his 2nd victory on the PGA Tour. He did so on the back of elite iron play on Saturday and Sunday, while using a quite unique equipment setup.

All WITB information is courtesy of GolfWRX.

Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)

Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX

Off the tee, Kitayama is playing the Titleist GT3 (11 degrees), with a Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX shaft. Kitayama play his GT3 in the D1 SureFit setting, with the driver playing at 10.25 degrees overall. He was very solid with his driver for the week, finishing tied for 23rd in Strokes Gained Off the Tee, and 13th in driving distance, averaging 314.6 yards off the tee.

Fairway Woods: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting), Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)

Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX (14.5 Degree), Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX (21 Degree)

He also carries two Titleist fairway woods, with his 3-wood being the all new GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees) with a Tour AD DI 8 TX. The new metal wood from Titleist is built with a low center of gravity along with a shallower face and stronger loft to optimize spin. Kitayama also carries a 7-wood, the Titleist GT1 (21 degrees) with a Tour AD DI 9 TX shaft. 

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

Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

The big story of the week for Kurt were his irons, as he finished 1st in strokes gained: approach and hit several iron shots to tap in range over the weekend. Kitayama is gaming a Taylormade combo set that includes a P7CB 4-iron, along with the P7MB (5-PW). He plays the Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shaft in all of his irons.

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)

Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Around the greens, Kitayama plays a fairly traditional trio of wedges. He has two Vokey Design SM10’s (52 and 56 degrees), along with a Vokey Design WedgeWorks lob wedge (60 degrees). All three wedges contain the Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shaft. He was also very good with his wedges, finishing 11th in Strokes Gained Around the Green.

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype

Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT

On the greens, Kitayama is rolling a Titleist Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype. He was decent with the flat stick for the tournament, finishing 37th in Strokes Gained Putting.

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)

Kitayama’s victory also marks the 2nd on Tour for the Bridgestone Mindset golf ball- with the first coming in Scotland from Chris Gotterup just a couple of weeks ago.