GOLF: Kitayama ties major record for lowest final-round score, credits 'putter God'

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pennsylvania — Kurt Kitayama delivered a stunning final-round performance at the PGA Championship on Sunday, firing a seven-under-par 63 at Aronimink Golf Club to tie the major championship record for the lowest score in the final round and surge into contention.

Kitayama became only the second golfer to shoot a 63 in the final round of a PGA Championship, matching the feat achieved by Brad Faxon in 1995. He also joined a select group of nine players to record the score in any of golf’s four major championships.

The American golfer credited his exceptional putting for the breakout round.

“The putter God,” Kitayama told reporters when asked about his performance. “I felt like I was holding the world out there. What my eye saw, that’s what the ball was doing. And that’s a good feeling. I think just the putter kind of carried me today.”

Starting the day 10 shots behind third-round leader Alex Smalley, Kitayama wasted no time making his move. He opened his round with three straight birdies and added four more in a flawless, bogey-free performance.

His 63 was the lowest round recorded during the tournament, beating the previous best score of the week by two strokes.

Kitayama finished his round at three-under-par overall, climbing into the top 10 and sitting three shots behind the lead before Smalley had even begun his final round.

“It was kind of one of those rounds for me that the putter clicked. I was just rolling it,” Kitayama said. “It was just lights out for me.” -Reporting by Frank Pingue in TorontoEditing by Toby Davis/Reuters