Brotherly Bond Boosts Kurt Kitayama To 3M Open Win After DeChambeau Calls In Caddie
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Bryson DeChambeau was more than 4,000 miles away from Minnesota during the final round of the 3M Open. Yet, the LIV golf star played a pivotal role in one of the weekend's main storylines at the TPC Twin Cities despite playing at the JCB Golf and Country Club in London.
It all started sometime last week, when DeChambeau's caddie, Greg Bodine, needed to miss the event in England due to personal issues. The two-time major champion was forced to make a call, and the recipient was none other than Tim Tucker, Kurt Kitayama's current caddie.
Naturally, DeChambeau's call to Tucker wasn't random. The two worked together from 2016 to 2021, during which time the player won eight times on the PGA Tour, including a major championship.
Nevertheless, when Tucker agreed to fill in for Bodine over the weekend, it was Kitayama who was left without a caddie. Fortunately, the 32-year-old also had an ace up his sleeve: his brother, Daniel.
Kurt Kitayama of the United States poses with the Elemental Swing trophy and his caddie Daniel Kitayama after putting in to win on the 18th green during the final round of the 3M Open...
Kurt Kitayama of the United States poses with the Elemental Swing trophy and his caddie Daniel Kitayama after putting in to win on the 18th green during the final round of the 3M Open 2025 at TPC Twin Cities on July 27, 2025 in Blaine, Minnesota. MoreThe move couldn't have worked out better. With his brother looking after his bag, he won the 3M Open after a sensational comeback. Kurt made the cut by just one stroke (6-under) but played the final 36 holes at 17-under to claim his second PGA Tour title.
It's also the third victory of his professional career with his brother as his caddie. This is no small feat, considering that Kitayama has only won five times since beginning his career in 2015.
"The caddie change wasn't my choice, actually," Kitayama said after his performance, according to the transcripts of the winner's press conference. "So, I had to find someone that I knew, I had to find someone that I trusted, and my brother's been on the bag before. We won twice in Europe."
"He's always been around me at tournaments and whenever he can, so I figured that was going to be the best fit to finish the season."
Career low 60 with your brother on the bag ...
Doesn't get much better than that for Kurt Kitayama 🫶 pic.twitter.com/pPrDFUeBf1 — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 27, 2025
Kurt was very pleased with the outcome of working with his brother, something they have done intermittently over the years.
"He helped me stay calm out there, make good decisions, and yeah, just helps having family on the bag," he said, according to the transcripts. " ... This win's going to be extra special having him on the bag. Very cool experience and really happy he's part of it."
DeChambeau, meanwhile, finished tied for 11th at LIV Golf UK with Tucker carrying his bag.
The future of this situation has not yet been made public, although Kitayama hinted that his brother could also be at his side at the Wyndham Championship next week.
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