Kurt Kitayama was the last player most people expected to be fitted for the red cardigan sweater as the winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
ORLANDO, Fla. — The way the final-round leaderboard began and the way it unfolded on a steamy Sunday at Bay Hill, Kurt Kitayama was the last player most people expected to be fitted for the traditional red cardigan sweater “The King’’ made famous as the winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Then there was Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, young up-and-comer Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton, the 2020 API champion. But a funny thing happened on the way to the end of the tournament as six different players held at least a share of the lead in the frenetic final round: Damned if Kitayama didn’t gather himself after No. 9, settle down and win the tournament.
Those experiences hardened the 30-year-old Kitayama, who’s a native of Aaron Rodgers’ hometown of Chico, Calif., to handle the heat he faced Sunday. The walk from the ninth green to the 10th tee is somewhat of a long trek across the back of the practice range and on that walk Kitayama told his caddie, Tim Tucker, “I don’t feel rattled at all.’’Kurt Kitayama tips his cap after winning at Bay Hill.After the birdie on 17 gave him the one-shot lead with one hole to play, Kitayama hit his tee shot into the thick, juicy left rough, leaving himself 158 yards to the flag.
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