They are friends and frequent competitors back home in Charleston at Daniel Island Club despite the inter-service rivalry. He had five years of service to finish first. Kyle Westmoreland, a 2014 USAFA graduate, became the first Academy graduate to compete in the U.S. Open, played at Torrey Pines Golf Course, June 17-20, at in San Diego, Calif. Westmoreland is also the first to ever play in one of the PGA's four major championships and became the first . The member firms of RSM International collaborate to provide services to global clients, but are separate and distinct legal entities that cannot obligate each other. The 29-year-old touring pro put his professional aspirations on hold for five years while serving his country and advanced through local qualifying at Columbia Country Club in Blythewood, South Carolinawhere he was medalist by two strokes (69)and final qualifying at Dallas Athletic Club to earn his first U.S. Open start. Seek assistance from golf instructors, professional equipment fitters and fitness specialists who can help you improve and want to see you succeed. I go through a few days not hitting it well Im like, uh, whats going on. Photo credit: Harry How/Getty Images. All rights reserved. After an opening round 72 (+2) on the Blue Course, Westmoreland rallied to shoot 9-under 63 on the par 72 Gold Course, including a front-nine six-under 29. The cacophony brings Kyle Westmoreland comfort. Facebook gives people the. If youre playing in windy conditions, consider keeping a driving iron or long iron on deck for a more penetrating flight. Westmoreland is one of the few pro golfers left with a 1-iron in his bag. We know what you're thinking after reading that headline: Any hole-in-one is spectacular. The time in the Air Force served him well. 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. The Official PGA TOUR Profile of Kyle Westmoreland. Torrential storms forced the qualifier to extend to Tuesday and during one of the rain delays Westmoreland heard from none other than PGA Tour winner Billy Hurley, a graduate of the Naval Academy. 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. In golf, as in life, perspective can greatly influence your attitude and overall performance. Many of the greens where he served were bumpy, so he would practice on a ruler instead. The now 27-year-old turned pro after serving five-and-a-half years of active duty for the Air Force. THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2023 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Watch a former Air Force captain make his first PGA Tour hole-in-one in spectacular fashion. 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. I've already won it. But they play three times a year; enjoying golf has become a great pastime of theirs and it blows off steam. "It felt like such a fairy tale story. Defending tournament champ Max Homa has committed to play. [5], In 2022, Westmoreland played on the Korn Ferry Tour with a best finish of T-7th place at AdventHealth Championship.[6]. Copyright 1996 - Thats why he has three different shots, and he rarely if ever hits it at 100 percent of his power. 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. He was 13th in driving distance on the Korn Ferry Tour at 319 yards. Every architect wants their holes to be challenging, entertaining and pretty, but these are the things that happen on the surface, and only after other critical elements have been put in place. Some of them also happened to be his former golf teammates at the Air Force Academy. 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. SRP: $379.95 BOA; $329.95 lace HyperFlex Finely tuned Read more. 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. 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. 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. 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. pic.twitter.com/eJz7j544iB, Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) September 5, 2022. [4], He has also had status on PGA Tour Canada. But can a league that embraced 54 holes, team golf and shotgun starts sustain? Kyle Westmoreland was born on September 20, 1991, and hails from Texas. While he did have access to a golf course on the base, other duties always came first (obviously). Kyle Westmoreland (born September 20, 1991) is an American professional golfer. These are dollar and a dream stories, and this year 19 U.S. Open qualifiers advanced through both local and final qualifying. 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. This helps with alignment, stroke path, and getting the ball rolling on your intended line. 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's journey to pro golf began at the Air Force Academy. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Christopher Crawford, who has competed on several professional circuits, including the newly created Forme Tour, did it the hard way for the third time. Allow Jeff Hall, the USGAs managing director of rules and Opens, to explain its importance: The openness of this championship is what truly sets it apart from all others, he said. I wanted to challenge myself. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast below! So Ill play that, and Ill hit that interchangeably with a 2-iron. Skoronski is productive: in three seasons as Northwestern's starting left tackle, he allowed just five sacks in 2,364 snaps. A new star in the golf scene shares his last name with a significant personality in modern U.S. history, and golf watchers wonder if there is a connection between them. 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. RELATED: Meet the Air Force captain teeing it up on the PGA Tour. Its not the only option at the top end of his iron setup, though. Brett Quigley fired a 7-under-par 65 and leads the Champions Tour's Cologuard Classic by 1 shot over John Huston, Kirk Triplett and Brian Cooper. 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. Visit rsmus.com/about for more information regarding RSM US LLP and RSM International. 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. With a rigorous schedule, Kyle carved time out whenever he could to try and keep his golf skills sharp. 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 . And, you know, kind of have a foundation built that I wouldnt have had had I not been in the military.. View the profiles of people named Kyle Westmoreland. Place a golf ball on one end, and putt along the ruler so the golf ball stays on the surface without rolling off the side. 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. Everything you need to know for the final round at Bay Hill. The wealthy Saudi-backed LIV Golf league embodied its "Golf, but louder" slogan in its first season. Also Read: Are Brian Harman and Butch Harmon Related? A top junior player in Katy, Texas, he had numerous offers to play college golf. PGA Tour rookie Nico Echavarria shot a 7-under 65 and holds a two-shot lead entering the final round of the Puerto Rico Open. Kyle Westmoreland, an Air Force Academy graduate whos currently navigating the world of professional golf, has a unique perspective on both golf and life. List of battleships of the United States Navy, Pages containing cite templates with deprecated parameters, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, "Meet the Air Force captain playing on the PGA Tour this week", https://www.golfdigest.com/story/meet-air-force-captain-kyle-westmoreland-who-has-the-pga-tour-in-his-sights, "Kyle Westmoreland becomes first Air Force player to make cut at U.S. Open", https://www.golfchannel.com/news/kyle-westmoreland-becomes-first-air-force-player-make-cut-us-open, "2021 U.S. Open prize money, purse: Payouts, winnings for each golfer from huge $12.5 million pool", https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/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", https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2021/06/15/u-s-open-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", https://www.golfdigest.com/story/us-open-2021-kyle-westmoreland, https://www.wagr.com/playerprofile/kyle-westmoreland-6912, 2013 Jackrabbit Invitational, Gene Miranda Falcon Invite, Patriot All-America. 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.. It makes you feel right at home, he said. PGA TOUR Stats, bio, video, photos, results, and career highlights Old rivalries die hard. Thats Bryson DeChambeau long-drive type numbers. The academy seemed hard, Westmoreland said. ). Then if were trying to long drive it for whatever reason, we can get it up to about 206.. Remember, not all golf courses are the same, so your 14-club equipment setup doesnt always have to be the same either. Want to overhaul your bag for 2021? The all new HyperFlex Carbon shoe features a moulded carbon fibre power plate that delivers tour-level stability and performance. I knew I wouldnt being to play right away, but I hoped it would work out.. William Westmoreland was born in 1914 near Spartanburg, South Carolina, into a family whose ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War and served in the Confederate Army during the Civil 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. But perhaps an ace is exactly what this ace pilot needed to jumpstart his season. The native Texan posted five victories collegiately at the Air Force Academy, and has made five starts on the Korn Ferry Tour and two on the PGA Tour. His father introduced him to golf when he was seven and he has been on the greens since. U.S. Open: Full-field scores | Full coverage. Check it out: See? I can't wait to play another tournament., Jon Rahm is a big believer in karma. Second is a cruise, we call it cruising speed. Kyle Westmoreland, an Air Force Academy graduate who's currently navigating the world of professional golf, has a unique perspective on both golf and life. PGA TOUR Stats, bio, video, photos, results, and career highlights While at the Nellis base between poses in front of the Thunderbirds F-16 fighter jets Westmoreland was able to catch up with his buddies who are currently serving in the military and stationed in Las Vegas. The golf community on social media cant help but wonder if he is related to General William Westmoreland, the late commander of the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. 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. Westmoreland, 30, finished in the 25th and final spot in the points standings. He. He practiced with a purpose and capitalized on every opportunity he could. College career [ edit] 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. Lee Trevino, a former Marine, won the title in 1968, and the Army veteran nicknamed Sarge, Orville Moody, claimed the title a year later. Privacy Policy. 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. Find a fitting location near you at GOLFs affiliate companyTrueSpecGolf. He played golf in the U.S. Air Force Academy where he was named male athlete of the year in 2014. He and his wife, Katherine Stevens Van Deusen, are parents to three childrenKatherine Stevens, James Ripley II, and Margaret Childs. Arnold Palmer Invitational pres. Westmoreland has bench-pressed upwards of 375 pounds and squatted in excess of 500. And then we have a full swing, whichits not a full back swing. Ahead of the 2021 Shriners Childrens Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, Westmorelands team invited me to join him for a Volition America x Puma photo shoot on the nearby Nellis Air Force Base. There's been a batch of unforgettable at Torrey Pines particularly on its par-5 closing hole so let's take a trip down memory lane. For Westmoreland, that means taking advantage of his prodigious length. They dont play very oftenbut when they get out there they still hit it good somehow, Westmoreland said on Fully Equipped. It's been a long road to the U.S. Open for Kyle Westmoreland. Between graduating from the Air Force Academy and turning professional, Westmoreland served in the military for half a decade while most of his current contemporaries in pro golf were honing their games. Kyle Jacobs, Husband of Kellie Pickler, Celebrated Major Career Win Day Before Apparent Suicide Kyle Jacobs was found dead in the home he shares with wife Kellie Pickler on Friday, the. [2][3] He was medalist at local qualifying during the qualification process. HyperFlex Carbon The new HyperFlex Carbon offers tour-proven enhancements, delivering unquestioned innovation, comfort, stability and visual design. Even when you cant get to a golf course, you can still work on your putting nearly anywhere. SAN DIEGO Bryson DeChambeau dominated the 120th U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club. He and his sister were raised in Katy by their parents, Don and Kim Westmoreland. Westmoreland has made history this week, becoming the first player from the Air Force Academy to. That left Westmoreland to work on his short game at night in his room, or on the practice green. Each member firm is responsible only for its own acts and omissions, and not those of any other party. General Westmoreland passed away on July 18, 2005, after battling Alzheimers. For regular citizen golfers, theres an important lesson that can be learned here. However, theres no evidence of a familial connection between the late general and Kyle Westmorelands family.