Westmoreland attended Air Force Academy before putting his pro golf dreams on hold for five years to serve his country, earning the rank of captain. While he did have access to a golf course on the base, other duties always came first (obviously). The PGA Tour announced the field for what's often known as golf's "fifth major," and Tiger Woods was not part of the group that will tee it up at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Golf Channel, All Rights Reserved. Despite the trouble guarding so many of the greens at PGA Nationals Champion course, Kirk managed to hit 54 of 72 greens to rank T-7 for the week, while posting a strokes gained/approach mark of 7.643 strokes gained on the field to rank second. Thats why he has three different shots, and he rarely if ever hits it at 100 percent of his power. "For me and the Air Force golf program, this is it. [1], Westmoreland made the cut at the 2021 U.S. Open with a tie for 68th place, becoming the first Air Force Academy graduate to do so. Players field: 43 of top 50 in OWGR, no Tiger, CL: Few devils in details of Tour's event restructure, Rahm falters with 76 in wind: 'It's f**king hard', Full list: '23 U.S. Open local, final qualifying sites. Sink Navy. If youre playing in windy conditions, consider keeping a driving iron or long iron on deck for a more penetrating flight. Thats Bryson DeChambeau long-drive type numbers. The cacophony brings Kyle Westmoreland comfort. And, you're probably right. The wealthy Saudi-backed LIV Golf league embodied its "Golf, but louder" slogan in its first season. A Captain in the Air Force, he turned to full-time professional golf upon his discharge in summer 2019, even Monday qualifying for the Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank while . HyperFlex Carbon offers additional underfoot cushioning with an OrthoLite Impressions FitBed. The next PGA Tour season starts in Napa, California, at the Fortinet Championship, Sept. 15-18. The academy seemed hard, Westmoreland said. I couldnt ask for anything more, the institution couldnt ask for anything more and I just want this to be a springboard for him moving forward, Air Force golf coach George Koury said. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast below! (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images). Westmoreland qualified after shooting a seven-under-par 135 at the qualifier at the Dallas . Volition America donates a portion of its profits to the Folds of Honor, a foundation that provides educational scholarships to the families of fallen soldiers, and Westmoreland wears the Puma x Volition America apparel proudly. All rights reserved. Westmoreland has made history this week, becoming the first player from the Air Force Academy to qualify . Westmoreland may be one of the longshots at Torrey Pines but military men have made their mark at the U.S. Open before. The cacophony brings Kyle Westmoreland comfort. 5 great reasons to put Bonville at the top of your list in 2023, Course flyover: The Western Australian Golf Club. At the U.S. Open, Kyle became the first Air Force Academy graduate to not only play in, but also make the cut at one of the sports Major Championships. ", https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2021/06/15/u-s-open-captain-kyle-westmoreland/, Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands, Central America, Top 50 Classic Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Didnt quite work outIf youve got the ability, if youve got the game, the U.S. Open empowers you to pursue your dream., Kyle Westmoreland plays a shot from a bunker on the 13th hole during a practice round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines. Its easier to do than you might think. He proved a worthy winner, but there always will be an asterisk of sorts for one reason and it has nothing to do with the lack of spectators. He worked hard, he continues to work hard and its awesome to see him have some fruits of that labor, Koury said. What a better poster guy than Kyle.. Kurt Kitayama took advantage of Jon Rahm's struggles on Friday, shooting a 4-under 68 to grab a two-shot lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The Official PGA TOUR Profile of Kyle Westmoreland. Privacy Policy. Kyle Westmoreland had a status in PGA Tour Canada. Kyle Westmoreland (born September 20, 1991) is an American professional golfer. In doing so, the Air Force veteran noticed the Patriots' Outpost, a viewing area exclusive to military. The time in the Air Force served him well. This is the big highlight," Koury told The Denver Gazette. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. After graduating in 2014 Westmoreland completed his five years of service time while mostly stationed in Charleston, S.C., where he practiced on a night driving range. 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Go Air Force. "Meet the Air Force captain playing on the PGA Tour this week", "Kyle Westmoreland becomes first Air Force player to make cut at U.S. Open", "2021 U.S. Open prize money, purse: Payouts, winnings for each golfer from huge $12.5 million pool", "The U.S. Open is open again for the likes of Captain Kyle Westmoreland", "U.S. Open 2021: This Air Force veteran won't win this week, but he embodies what the National Open is all about", "Kyle Westmoreland set for Korn Ferry Tour season with overhauled swing", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kyle_Westmoreland&oldid=1135445292, 2013 Jackrabbit Invitational, Gene Miranda Falcon Invite, Patriot All-America, This page was last edited on 24 January 2023, at 18:36. Westmorelands dream was deferred five years but hes made it to his first major before 30 and says hes better for it. He earned $122,575 in on-course winnings during the 2022 campaign. Lee Trevino, a former Marine, won the title in 1968, and the Army veteran nicknamed Sarge, Orville Moody, claimed the title a year later. For this interview, though, we dove into the backstory of Westmoreland, his experiences in the military, his transition into professional golf after serving active duty, what hes learned along the way, and, OK, maybe a little about golf equipment, too. It's also believed to be the first hole-in-one of Westmoreland's life, so nice spot to do it with the cameras rolling. After graduation in 2014, Westmoreland spent the next three years stationed in Charleston, S.C., and Biloxi, Miss., working in the Air Force's financial-management division. His go-to putting drill was to putt on a ruler. [5], In 2022, Westmoreland played on the Korn Ferry Tour with a best finish of T-7th place at AdventHealth Championship.[6]. Critics say new PGA Tour events copy LIV. "Go Air Force. In golf, as in life, perspective can greatly influence your attitude and overall performance. written by Matthew Wilson June 20, 2021 3:29 pm. Westmoreland has serious speed off the tee, saying he tops out at 206 mph of ball speed with his driver. He knows, however, that hitting fairways can be equally as important to his scores as hitting it deep. ", "It's frustrating in the moment when it's happening, but afterwards for me now, I don't really care as much. These are dollar and a dream stories, and this year 19 U.S. Open qualifiers advanced through both local and final qualifying. Kyle Westmoreland is a 30-year-old Houston native who spent five-and-a-half years on active duty in the Air Force following graduation from the Air Force Academy. Likewise, Captain Kyle Westmoreland booked his debut becoming the first Air Force Academy graduate to compete in the U.S. Open and the first to play in one of golfs four major championships. Kyle Westmoreland (born September 20, 1991) is an American professional golfer . Just ask Kyle Westmoreland, the first Air Force Academy graduate to earn his PGA Tour card. I know who I am now and what my priorities are. Since its opening in March 1993, the golf course at Links Hope Island has regularly featured among the leading courses in Australia. Terms of Service Which ball counts? For men like Captain Westmoreland who have clawed their way into the field at one of the most prestigious championships in golf, this week is about dreams coming true, of a lifetime of hard work, of perseverance paying off. He carries a 3-iron, 4-iron and a 3-wood, and he will leave one of those out of his bag come competition time. Westmoreland worked all day in finance, got in a workout after, then headed to the driving range at Patriots Point Links, where he would hit under the lights until it closed at 10 p.m. In the summer of 2019, he turned to golf full time, and earned the 25th and final PGA Tour card available at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in September. By signing up, you agree to the The 2020 edition was the U.S. Closed. PGA TOUR Stats, bio, video, photos, results, and career highlights It's been a rough rookie campaign so far for the 31-year-old with six missed cuts in eight starts. Each member firm is responsible only for its own acts and omissions, and not those of any other party. Early Thursday morning, that grandson 25-year-old Cameron Champ stood in wonder at Augusta National's first tee, watching his grandfather's hero serve as an honorary starter for the 85th. It provides great inspiration to golfers around the world. He earned his PGA Tour card for the 202223 season via the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Typically, our Fully Equipped podcast focuses on golf equipment industry news, club reviews and gear education. RSM US LLP is a limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of RSM International, a global network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms. Westmoreland has bench-pressed upwards of 375 pounds and squatted in excess of 500. [1] Professional career [ edit] Its immaterial that Ken Venturi (1964) andOrville Moody (1969) are the only players to win the U.S. Open after qualifying through both local and final play. He played golf in the U.S. Air Force Academy where he was named male athlete of the year in 2014. But he walked off the green in red figures after acing the par 3 with a one-hopper. He is a longtime disciple of kickboxing and Muay Thai and taught hand-to-hand combat at the Air Force Academy.. To show his gratitude for his team, though, Westmoreland displays military badges from various Air Force members and military squadrons. For Westmoreland, that means taking advantage of his prodigious length. Weekends allowed time to really grind. "It felt like such a fairy tale story. Beat Army, Sink Navy. 2023 Australian Golf Digest. He had five years of service to finish first. Whats the secret of longevity and good golf? But can a league that embraced 54 holes, team golf and shotgun starts sustain? I wanted to learn more about his. Kyle Westmoreland's last start on the PGA TOUR came at the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open. It makes you feel right at home, he said. There were also three new members elected to the USGA executive committee. A professional golf career would have to wait. [1], Westmoreland made the cut at the 2021 U.S. Open and finished in a tie for 68th place, becoming the first Air Force Academy graduate to do so. A top junior player in Katy, Texas, he had numerous offers to play college golf. On his way to a deployment in Africa, Westmoreland spent a week in Roda, Spain, where he could only rent one club per day. Just like in the military, you have a goal you want to work towards and you figure out how youre going to do it, how youre going to perfect it and then you go for it, he said. HyperFlex Carbon The new HyperFlex Carbon offers tour-proven enhancements, delivering unquestioned innovation, comfort, stability and visual design. He played golf in the U.S. Air Force Academy where he was named male athlete of the year in 2014. He chose to attend. No wonder hes hit so many on-line putts on Torrey Pines tricky greens this week. He makes that decision based on which of the clubs hes likely to use most often at different courses and in different conditions. Photo credit: Harry How/Getty Images. For regular citizen golfers, theres an important lesson that can be learned here. U.S. Open: Kyle Westmoreland is first Air Force Academy grad to compete The U.S. Open is open again for the likes of Captain Kyle Westmoreland Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports Adam Schupak. Kyle Westmoreland, a 2014 USAFA graduate, will compete in the 121 st U.S. Open Championship, June 17-20, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif. Westmoreland is the first Academy graduate to compete in the U.S. Open and the first to ever play in one of the PGA's four major championships. Rules Review: I thought my ball was lost and put another in play, then found my first in the hole(!) One day it would be a 6-iron, a 7-iron the next, an 8-iron after that anything to play and stay sharp. SHARE ON. But when you see the one Kyle Westmoreland made on Wednesday during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open you'll also agree this was particularly pleasing to the eye. And, you know, kind of have a foundation built that I wouldnt have had had I not been in the military.. [4], He has also had status on PGA Tour Canada. After a tour of the base, and watching fighter jets lift off from the runway (with ear plugs in to block the incredibly loud noise), Westmoreland sat down with me for a guest spot on GOLFs Fully Equipped podcast. Rarely does Westmoreland use the word I. As a military man, he values the team he has around him whether its his fellow Air Force members, lieutenants, sponsors, golf coaches, or wife. Westmorelands journey to Torrey Pines is one of the more unique ones in the 156-player field. and That left Westmoreland to work on his short game at night in his room, or on the practice green. Its often forgotten that design contribution extended all the way to Australia, where Arnold Palmer in his playing days won an Australian Open and Wills Masters title. Both stages of qualifying were canceled last year due to the pandemic. It gives me hope. Our results with players at this years Hot List testing show that some players cant carry a 5-iron farther than they fly a 7-iron. PGA TOUR Stats, bio, video, photos, results, and career highlights The USGA announced on Thursday four additional exemption categories to the U.S. Open. 1:47 Kyle Westmoreland took a moment on the 18th hole to take in the surroundings. But perhaps an ace is exactly what this ace pilot needed to jumpstart his season. [2][3] He was medalist at local qualifying during the qualification process. He. Who here at one point in their golf career early on practiced as a teenager waiting for mom and dad to pick you up, hit that 5-foot putt as darkness is coming down, the dwindling daylight, stating quietly, not so everybody could hear but just so you could hear, This is for the U.S. Open. Guilty. by Mastercard. The Grant Thornton Invitational, the new mixed event that is replacing the QBE Shootout, will include 16 teams of players from the LPGA Tour and PGA Tour competing in a three-day tournament for a . Everything you need to know for the final round at Bay Hill. Tardy was one of 46 players to get LPGA Tour cards for the 2023 season on Sunday after the conclusion of the eight-round marathon that is LPGA Q Series. While golf is an individual sport, its important to keep a supportive team around you to help you meet your goals. They live in a high-stress world and a lot of people say golf can be stressful, but I think they handle it well and use golf as an outlet so golfs not stressful for them.. 2023 He was also active in his squadron as a flight commander. Weekdays were a little tougher. So we have a full swing that goes to about 195. Check it out: See? Kyle Westmoreland was born in Lewisville, Texas, four hours north of Memorial Park, host of this week's Cadence Bank Houston Open. A top junior player in Katy, Texas, he had numerous offers to play college golf. He made the cut in the 2021 U.S. Open, becoming the first Air Force Academy graduate to do so. I wanted to learn more about his backstory and outlook, and also understand how a military man could possibly have enough time to ready his golf game to compete professionally. Westmoreland competed for the United States Air Force Academy where he was named male athlete of the year in 2014 after finishing 4th at the Mountain West Conference championships. RELATED: Meet the Air Force captain teeing it up on the PGA Tour. Here are 5 things about life, golf and equipment I learned from my sit down with Westmoreland. Westmoreland, who saw his score inch up in the wrong direction each day this week, posted scores of 69-70-71-72 and finished 6 under, 15 shots back of Korn Ferry Tour Championship winner Justin Suh. SRP: $379.95 BOA; $329.95 lace HyperFlex Finely tuned Read more. Its a championship for many that starts with a dream. Well, its actually the loft of a 2-iron, he says, but the 1 looks cleaner. Admittedly, having a 1-iron in the bag does look pretty cool. Seek assistance from golf instructors, professional equipment fitters and fitness specialists who can help you improve and want to see you succeed. Westmoreland competed for the United States Air Force Academy where he was named male athlete of the year in 2014 after finishing 4th at the Mountain West Conference championships. Players had until 5 p.m. Westmoreland has made history this week, becoming the first player from the Air Force Academy to. Finished T-9 2022 Nationwide Childrens Hospital Open 7th 2022 Wichita Open, Finished T-7 2022 Advent Health Championship, Finished T-15 2022 Chitimacha Louisiana Open, Finished T-25 2022 The Panama Championship, Finished T-3 2021 ATP Paragon Casino Championship 2nd 2021 ST Atlanta 2nd 2021 SST Las Vegas 1ST 2021 U.S. Open Local Qualifier 4th 2021 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier, United States Air Force Academy Male Athlete of the Year (2014). Others in the field include Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, Brandt Snedeker and past winner Cameron Champ. It basically goes the same distance, but Im pretty much never gonna miss the face with the driver. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. These are just a few examples, but experiment with a number of options at the top end of your set so youre ready for ever-changing golf course conditions. PGA Tour rookie Carson Young, seeking his first win, posted a 5-under 67 on Friday and built a 4-shot lead going into the weekend at the Puerto Rico Open. The broad-shouldered big hitter has shown he has the game to play with the worlds best players, climbing the leaderboard before a triple bogey on the par-4 14th hole knocked him down a few notches. Photo by Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports. He was blessed with speed, and hes worked with Alan Terrell, who coached Dustin Johnson at Coastal Carolina, and Jeff Smith, who has a large stable of Tour pros, on reigning in his swing just a bit. Kyle Westmoreland hits out of a bunker on the 13th hole during a practice round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Monday, June 14, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. He's the first Air Force Academy graduate to earn a @PGATOUR card. As his service commitment drew to a close, Kyle set his sights on professional golf again and even shot a 7-under to qualify for the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. But it was good enough for Westmoreland, the first Air Force grad to play in a U.S. Open, to earn his place on Tour for the 2022-23 season. ClubTest Proving Ground: Do PXG's 0211 XCOR2 irons live up to the hype? GOLF.com and GOLF Magazine are published by EB GOLF MEDIA LLC, a division of 8AM GOLF, 5 interesting things I learned from Air Force Academy grad (and pro golfer) Kyle Westmoreland, What is Jim Nantzs career lowlight? Let him tell you about adult film, Its f hard: Jon Rahm comes back to Earth at brutal Bay Hill. That was pretty nifty, right? Start the Golf Season off right with InsideGOLF ($100 value - just $20). ET Friday to commit to the event. [4], He has also had status on PGA Tour Canada.[5]. Westmoreland did his best to keep his game sharp while serving. But they play three times a year; enjoying golf has become a great pastime of theirs and it blows off steam. But as a Captain, Kyle had his priorities in place, which meant serving his country for the next five years. Beat Army. William Westmoreland served as the chief of staff of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Westmoreland attended Air Force Academy before putting his pro golf dreams on hold for five years to serve his country, earning the rank of captain. He is survived by his wife and kids. I've already won it. But it doesnt have to be a stressor, it can be a stress reliever. When Air Force graduate Kyle Westmoreland last year became the first academy alum to compete in the U.S. Open, then-Falcons golf coach George Koury described it as the ultimate. Hurleys best advice to Westmoreland on what he needs to do to make the leap to the PGA Tour? Kyle had a strong 2022 season on the Korn Ferry Tour, as he had three top-10 finishes and was 13th on Tour in driving distance. Many of the greens where he served were bumpy, so he would practice on a ruler instead. Even under pressure, I'm performing well. He said, Figure out what youre good at and get really good at it, Westmoreland said. Learn from Jon Rahms abbreviated action to maximise your power game. Kyles inspirational story continues as he earned a coveted PGA TOUR card for the 2022-2023 season by finishing in the Top-25 of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. He and his wife, Katherine Stevens Van Deusen, are parents to three childrenKatherine Stevens, James Ripley II, and Margaret Childs. We know what you're thinking after reading that headline: Any hole-in-one is spectacular. Im in a better mental headspace, he said. He and his sister were raised in Katy by their parents, Don and Kim Westmoreland. The Official PGA TOUR Profile of Kyle Westmoreland. If he had it his way, actually, Westmoreland says he wouldnt even have his name stitched onto his PXG staff bag.