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. He knows the job cant be done alone, and he doesnt take credit as an individual. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Thats why he has three different shots, and he rarely if ever hits it at 100 percent of his power. He was 13th in driving distance on the Korn Ferry Tour at 319 yards. His go-to putting drill was to putt on a ruler. SHARE ON. While he did have access to a golf course on the base, other duties always came first (obviously). He chose to attend Air Force, not exactly known as a golf powerhouse, but a place where he would be pushed and get good coaching. If he had it his way, actually, Westmoreland says he wouldnt even have his name stitched onto his PXG staff bag. U.S. Open 2021: Meet Kyle Westmoreland, The First Air Force Veteran to Make Cut in a Major. Instant access to the latest news, videos and photos from around the world of golf. I've already won it. He . But they play three times a year; enjoying golf has become a great pastime of theirs and it blows off steam. 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. 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 on terminal leave before discharge. 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. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast below! It can rightfully be call the peoples championship once more. 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. But not too much. Visit rsmus.com/about for more information regarding RSM US LLP and RSM International. During his five years in the Air Force, he won four college tournaments, earned All-Honors and even was named the Air Force Academys Male Athlete of the Year. Westmorelands dream was deferred five years but hes made it to his first major before 30 and says hes better for it. Its a championship for many that starts with a dream. Even when you cant get to a golf course, you can still work on your putting nearly anywhere. The 156-player field includes 88 fully exempt golfers, which is too many, in my humble opinion, and in conflict with its reputation of being the most democratic championship. The 2020 edition was the U.S. Closed. Michael Murphy is a hero to me in every sense of the word. These are dollar and a dream stories, and this year 19 U.S. Open qualifiers advanced through both local and final qualifying. They dont play very oftenbut when they get out there they still hit it good somehow, Westmoreland said on Fully Equipped. 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. Learn from Jon Rahms abbreviated action to maximise your power game. 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. He had three top-10s and made 14 cuts in 26 events during the season. 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. The next PGA Tour season starts in Napa, California, at the Fortinet Championship, Sept. 15-18. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information (California). Everyone wants to play in the U.S. Open, its, you know, its arguably the hardest, some say the hardest major to get into, Westmoreland said. 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 . If youre playing a short and tight course, for example, maybe you want to put a hybrid or high-lofted fairway wood in the bag to hit off the tee. He played golf in the U.S. Air Force Academy where he was named male athlete of the year in 2014. Some of them also happened to be his former golf teammates at the Air Force Academy. But he never wavered on his goal of playing professional golf. And then we have a full swing, whichits not a full back swing. [2][3] He was medalist at local qualifying during the qualification process. While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, he had to juggle his duties as a captain with finding time to practice and play. 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. He chose to attend. Seek assistance from golf instructors, professional equipment fitters and fitness specialists who can help you improve and want to see you succeed. For Westmoreland, that means taking advantage of his prodigious length. I can't wait to play another tournament., Jon Rahm is a big believer in karma. "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. Jed Morgan scores LIV Golfs golden ticket as big-name stars plan Aussie escape. Its not the only option at the top end of his iron setup, though. ClubTest Proving Ground: Do PXG's 0211 XCOR2 irons live up to the hype? 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. But as a Captain, Kyle had his priorities in place, which meant serving his country for the next five years. Kyle Westmoreland (born September 20, 1991) is an American professional golfer . ). His father introduced him to golf when he was seven and he has been on the greens since. He is a longtime disciple of kickboxing and Muay Thai and taught hand-to-hand combat at the Air Force Academy.. 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. ", "It's frustrating in the moment when it's happening, but afterwards for me now, I don't really care as much. 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 . While golf is an individual sport, its important to keep a supportive team around you to help you meet your goals. Join Facebook to connect with Kyle Westmoreland and others you may know. Latest on Kyle Westmoreland including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN In the summer of 2019, he turned to golf full. 1:47 Kyle Westmoreland took a moment on the 18th hole to take in the surroundings. Beat Army, Sink Navy. [1] Professional career [ edit] If youre playing in windy conditions, consider keeping a driving iron or long iron on deck for a more penetrating flight. He earned $122,575 in on-course winnings during the 2022 campaign. 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. 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. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. William Westmoreland served as the chief of staff of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. 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. ", 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. 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. [4], He has also had status on PGA Tour Canada. 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. He and his wife, Katherine Stevens Van Deusen, are parents to three childrenKatherine Stevens, James Ripley II, and Margaret Childs. Westmoreland may be one of the longshots at Torrey Pines but military men have made their mark at the U.S. Open before. The all new HyperFlex Carbon shoe features a moulded carbon fibre power plate that delivers tour-level stability and performance. Check it out: See? Im in a better mental headspace, he said. 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 attended Air Force Academy before putting his pro golf dreams on hold for five years to serve his country, earning the rank of captain. and General Westmoreland passed away on July 18, 2005, after battling Alzheimers. The cacophony brings Kyle Westmoreland comfort. That was pretty nifty, right? After narrowly earning his tour card in September, Westmoreland said, "I don't drink, but I need a beer." 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. 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. Westmoreland has made history this week, becoming the first player from the Air Force Academy to qualify for the U.S. Open. I go through a few days not hitting it well Im like, uh, whats going on. 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. He made the cut in the 2021 U.S. Open, becoming the first Air Force Academy graduate to do so. by Mastercard. "It felt like such a fairy tale story. 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. And, you know, kind of have a foundation built that I wouldnt have had had I not been in the military.. 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. Its a very controlled cut and I play that about 185 to 188 mph. The Official PGA TOUR Profile of Kyle Westmoreland. 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. All rights reserved. Rules of Golf Review: How do I find my nearest point of relief? Westmoreland's journey to Torrey Pines is one of the more unique ones in the 156-player field. 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. 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. 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. 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 . The cacophony brings Kyle Westmoreland comfort. Even under pressure, I'm performing well. Kyle Westmoreland's last start on the PGA TOUR came at the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Second is a cruise, we call it cruising speed. So Ill play that, and Ill hit that interchangeably with a 2-iron. Rules Review: I thought my ball was lost and put another in play, then found my first in the hole(!) Kyle Westmoreland was born on September 20, 1991, and hails from Texas. Golf can be confusing and frustrating, but you dont have to go at it alone. SRP: $379.95 BOA; $329.95 lace HyperFlex Finely tuned Read more. Photo by Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports. Join Facebook to connect with Kyle Westmoreland and others you may know.