Kitayama opened with a 65 but barely made the cut after shooting even-par 71 on Friday when he lacked control of his ball flight. He rushed to the range, hit some balls and talked to his coach, Chris Como. “Felt like I found something that I could go with,” he said.

Kitayama won the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational for his first Tour victory, and navigated the 18th hold delicately on Sunday, needing par for victory. He hit his second shot into a green-side bunker, but got to within 17 feet from there on the par-5 hole and two-putted for the win.