Want to overhaul your bag for 2021? He was a senior in college at Air Force in 2014 and then served out his five-year commitment, reaching the rank of captain serving in the financial management division. Kyle Westmoreland's last start on the PGA TOUR came at the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Meet the Air Force captain playing on the PGA Tour this week 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. [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. The cacophony brings Kyle Westmoreland comfort. 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. But can a league that embraced 54 holes, team golf and shotgun starts sustain? The USGA announced on Thursday four additional exemption categories to the U.S. Open. But he walked off the green in red figures after acing the par 3 with a one-hopper. pic.twitter.com/eJz7j544iB, Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) September 5, 2022. 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. Lessons learned in the military have given Westmoreland a blueprint for success that he is attempting to apply to golf. "For me and the Air Force golf program, this is it. We know what you're thinking after reading that headline: Any hole-in-one is spectacular. Watch a former Air Force captain make his first PGA Tour hole-in-one in He. He played golf in the U.S. Air Force Academy where he was named male athlete of the year in 2014. 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. This helps with alignment, stroke path, and getting the ball rolling on your intended line. 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. 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. Air Force grad Kyle Westmoreland makes golf history by earning PGA Tour Join Facebook to connect with Kyle Westmoreland and others you may know. Five years of service did nothing to blunt his game. 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. 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's the first Air Force Academy graduate to earn a @PGATOUR card. 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. U.S. Open 2021: This Air Force veteran won't win this week, but he William Westmoreland served as the chief of staff of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. And were Tour bound, baby, he said with the sun setting behind him and 24 others who made their dreams come true Sunday at Victoria National in Newburgh, Indiana. The guy who misses the best is going to win. Viktor Hovland aces the 7th hole at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Remember, not all golf courses are the same, so your 14-club equipment setup doesnt always have to be the same either. 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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. For regular citizen golfers, theres an important lesson that can be learned here. Westmoreland has made history this week, becoming the first player from the Air Force Academy to. 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.. It basically goes the same distance, but Im pretty much never gonna miss the face with the driver. And its why the U.S. Open being a true open again is another welcome sign that life is returning to something resembling normal. Air Force Captain Kyle Westmoreland looking to take flight at 2020 Find a fitting location near you at GOLFs affiliate companyTrueSpecGolf. "It makes you feel right at home," he said. It's been a long road to the U.S. Open for Kyle Westmoreland. General Westmoreland passed away on July 18, 2005, after battling Alzheimers. Westmoreland qualified after shooting a seven-under-par 135, tying him for fourth overall at the Dallas qualifier. SHARE ON. 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. 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. Second is a cruise, we call it cruising speed. HyperFlex Carbon offers additional underfoot cushioning with an OrthoLite Impressions FitBed. Photo by Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports. By: Caroline John - Published: November 12, 2021 at 7:01 am, Kyle Westmoreland at Torrey Pines Golf Course on June 17, 2021 in San Diego, California. Kyle Westmoreland was born on September 20, 1991, and hails from Texas. He said, Figure out what youre good at and get really good at it, Westmoreland said. 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. 2023 Australian Golf Digest. 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. Skoronski is productive: in three seasons as Northwestern's starting left tackle, he allowed just five sacks in 2,364 snaps. 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. 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. Nico Echavarria has made only two cuts in 10 starts heading into the Puerto Rico Open. ClubTest Proving Ground: Do PXG's 0211 XCOR2 irons live up to the hype? [4], He has also had status on PGA Tour Canada.[5]. ", 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. Thats Bryson DeChambeau long-drive type numbers. He was 13th in driving distance on the Korn Ferry Tour at 319 yards. 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. It can rightfully be call the peoples championship once more. So Ill play that, and Ill hit that interchangeably with a 2-iron. Kyle Westmoreland, a product of the U.S. Air Force Academy, is 2021s rising golf star. Kyle Westmoreland becomes first USAFA grad to qualify for US Open 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. 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. Kyle Westmoreland Profiles | Facebook 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. The Official PGA TOUR Profile of Kyle Westmoreland. 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. This is the big highlight," Koury told The Denver Gazette. I have one where the ball speed goes to about 155 mph and flies about 250, and rolls out to 280. HyperFlex Carbon The new HyperFlex Carbon offers tour-proven enhancements, delivering unquestioned innovation, comfort, stability and visual design. 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. 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. "It felt like such a fairy tale story. He knows, however, that hitting fairways can be equally as important to his scores as hitting it deep. I can't wait to play another tournament., Jon Rahm is a big believer in karma. The cacophony brings Kyle Westmoreland comfort. The cacophony brings Kyle Westmoreland comfort. 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. 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. ET Friday to commit to the event. Its not the only option at the top end of his iron setup, though. Golf Channel, All Rights Reserved. But perhaps an ace is exactly what this ace pilot needed to jumpstart his season. "Go Air Force. In doing so, the Air Force veteran noticed the Patriots' Outpost, a viewing area exclusive to military. (Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada) With the frame of a linebacker, standing at 6 feet 3 . Learn from Jon Rahms abbreviated action to maximise your power game. But not too much. 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. Kyle Westmoreland (born September 20, 1991) is an American professional golfer. Defending tournament champ Max Homa has committed to play. 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. RELATED: Meet the Air Force captain teeing it up on the PGA Tour. I knew I wouldnt being to play right away, but I hoped it would work out.. 2023 Now four months later, it looks like he'll be buying a few tonight at Torrey Pines. That left Westmoreland to work on his short game at night in his room, or on the practice green. Seek assistance from golf instructors, professional equipment fitters and fitness specialists who can help you improve and want to see you succeed. Nine months later, the world is in a very different place and so the USGA accepted 9,069 entries to this years national championship, the eighth-highest total in U.S. Open history. 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. While golf is an individual sport, its important to keep a supportive team around you to help you meet your goals. Sink Navy. Westmoreland actually said he used to be a lot faster than Bryson, but hes since put those days behind him, prioritizing accuracy rather than distance. Just remember, even if youre playing the worst round of your life, at least youre out playing golf. His go-to putting drill was to putt on a ruler. by Mastercard. Typically, our Fully Equipped podcast focuses on golf equipment industry news, club reviews and gear education. Kyle Westmoreland Scorecards | ESPN Westmoreland qualified after shooting a seven-under-par 135 at the qualifier at the Dallas . 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. 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. With a rigorous schedule, Kyle carved time out whenever he could to try and keep his golf skills sharp. 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. 5 great reasons to put Bonville at the top of your list in 2023, Course flyover: The Western Australian Golf Club. Westmoreland did his best to keep his game sharp while serving. PGA TOUR Stats, bio, video, photos, results, and career highlights "It makes you feel right at home," he said. 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.. 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. What a better poster guy than Kyle.. His access to golf. No wonder hes hit so many on-line putts on Torrey Pines tricky greens this week. 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. 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. Beat Army. 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. These are dollar and a dream stories, and this year 19 U.S. Open qualifiers advanced through both local and final qualifying. 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. Go Air Force. Photo credit: Harry How/Getty Images. He and his sister were raised in Katy by their parents, Don and Kim Westmoreland. It gives me hope. So we have a full swing that goes to about 195. Others in the field include Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, Brandt Snedeker and past winner Cameron Champ. ClubTest 2022: The inside story behind PXG's newest drivers (plus reviews! 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. Both stages of qualifying were canceled last year due to the pandemic. 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 . This year there were 108 local qualifying sites between April 26-May 17 that led to 11 final qualifiers, including an international site in Japan. 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. 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. Kyle Westmoreland | Military Wiki | Fandom Kyle Westmoreland (born September 20, 1991) is an American professional golfer. But they play three times a year; enjoying golf has become a great pastime of theirs and it blows off steam. U.S. Open 2021: Meet Kyle Westmoreland, The First Air Force Veteran to Make Cut in a Major. written by Matthew Wilson June 20, 2021 3:29 pm. 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. Westmoreland bounced back nicely, though, and was seven shots behind co-leaders Richard Bland and Russell Henley at 2 over in good position to become the first person from the Air Force Academy to make the cut at the U.S. Open. Kyle Westmoreland first Air Force Academy graduate earn PGA Tour card Qualifying is a cherished part of what makes the Open the Open. Westmoreland received a sponsors invite to play in the Shriners Open, and he also recently made history at the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, becoming the first ever Air Force Academy graduate to qualify for the event. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images). Facebook gives people the. The pro golf made quite the distinction, becoming the first Air Force veteran to qualify in the Majors. On his way to a deployment in Africa, Westmoreland spent a week in Roda, Spain, where he could only rent one club per day. He made the cut in the 2021 U.S. Open, becoming the first Air Force Academy graduate to do so. The PGA Tour rookie and former Air Force captain arrived at the 201-yard 16th hole (his seventh of the day) at Torrey Pines South at one over. 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). Whats the secret of longevity and good golf? Air Force Academy Athletics "@Kyle_West_ played collegiality @AF_Golf and completed a five-year service commitment in the @USAirForce before pursuing professional golf. Westmoreland thriving at U.S. Open after Air Force service - Yahoo! News He practiced with a purpose and capitalized on every opportunity he could. I wanted to learn more about his. [5], In 2022, Westmoreland played on the Korn Ferry Tour with a best finish of T-7th place at AdventHealth Championship.[6]. The USGA announced on Monday the local and final qualifying sites for the 123rd U.S. Open Championship. I know who I am now and what my priorities are. I go through a few days not hitting it well Im like, uh, whats going on. He earned $122,575 in on-course winnings during the 2022 campaign. 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. Westmoreland's journey to Torrey Pines is one of the more unique ones in the 156-player field. and 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. 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. He played golf in the U.S. Air Force Academy where he was named male athlete of the year in 2014. He is a longtime disciple of kickboxing and Muay Thai and taught hand-to-hand combat at the Air Force Academy.. Player's Take: Kyle Westmoreland - PGATour 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. Westmoreland has made history this week, becoming the first player from the Air Force Academy to qualify for the U.S. Open. 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. Kyle Westmoreland PGA TOUR Player Profile, Stats, Bio, Career ). Instant access to the latest news, videos and photos from around the world of golf. One day it would be a 6-iron, a 7-iron the next, an 8-iron after that anything to play and stay sharp. There were also three new members elected to the USGA executive committee. Arnold Palmer Invitational pres. Many of the greens where he served were bumpy, so he would practice on a ruler instead. Westmoreland is one of the few pro golfers left with a 1-iron in his bag. Paul Klee: Let it rip! Air Force graduate Kyle Westmoreland ready to Westmoreland has bench-pressed upwards of 375 pounds and squatted in excess of 500. He makes that decision based on which of the clubs hes likely to use most often at different courses and in different conditions. However, theres no evidence of a familial connection between the late general and Kyle Westmorelands family. Discover what makes RSM the first choice advisor to middle market leaders, globally. He worked hard, he continues to work hard and its awesome to see him have some fruits of that labor, Koury said. Players had until 5 p.m. He knows the job cant be done alone, and he doesnt take credit as an individual. It doesnt have enough spin or loft to leave the fairway. [2][3] He was medalist at local qualifying during the qualification process. William Westmoreland - HISTORY For Westmorelands buddies in the military they go by Sticks, Thunder and Dog golf is an outlet for enjoyment away from their stressful day jobs. 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. 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. He lives in Katy, just a 25-minute drive from the Houston . Im in a better mental headspace, he said. 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.