Kurt Kitayama discusses his dramatic push from outside the top 125 earlier in the season to securing a BMW Championship berth and all Signature Events in 2025. He breaks down key birdies, improved driving, and the mental challenge of playing under “bubble pressure” in the FedExCup Playoffs’ opening event.
Kurt, talk us through that putt that just sealed your uh uh sealed your trip to uh BMW. Um I was just trying to lie up there. I saw it was kind of 44 45 and I figured a par would be good and you know just hit it with good speed and you know just went in. So that could have took a lot more pressure off. Did you pay attention to the boards today at all or just kind of play play your game and uh I mean I did pay attention a little bit. I kind of knew I felt like you know if I could get a couple couple under I’d be give myself a good chance and um you know kind of got off to a tough start and um you know had made a few nice birdies coming in so that you know helped a lot. Can you just describe how the last I don’t know maybe month or so has kind of gone with being in the 13s in Fk and now making all the way to BMW securing your spot into all the signature events next year. Yeah, it’s uh feel. I mean, it’s been uh stressful, I guess, you know, but uh it’s been good stress. Um seen a lot of progress in my game, you know, through those, you know, last couple months. Um and so now it’s it’s really seems to kind of be working. You mentioned not the best start you wanted today, but how important was it for you to birdie 10 and 12? Yeah, I mean to get back under par was big. Um, you know, you know, you have a few holes coming in that you can score on and then, you know, 17 and 18 are really tough. So, you kind of want to get that get under par before you get in there and, um, you know, getting birdies there definitely helped. This was your best driving day of the week. What was the biggest difference in that part of your game today? Uh, I don’t know. It just seemed to click a little better today. Um, didn’t feel too far off the first two days. Um, but today was definitely, you know, felt like I was swinging a little better. Everyone talks about the stress of the bubble. Is there anything that you can compare that stress to in your career? Um, I don’t know. I feel like trying to keep your card not quite as stressful as that, you know, because you know where we’re at. It’s it’s a good spot to be. Um, I don’t know. It’s It’s hard to describe, I guess, how to compare it to, but it’s definitely, you know, especially cuz top 50 gets you on a signature events. Um, and so that helps set your schedule for the next year and, um, that’s really big. How much does a week like this help your confidence? Uh, it helps a lot, you know, knowing I can get it done when I need to. Um, you know, I wasn’t sure how I felt coming into the today’s round and and to be able to muster up some birdies down the stretch was was really big. Thank you.
