ORLANDO (SNN-TV) – A rollercoaster affair yesterday at Bay Hill culminated with Kurt Kitayama donning the red cardigan as winner of the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Five players — including three of the last five winners of this tournament — were tied for the lead with three holes left to play, yet Kitayama weaved through the crowded leaderboard to win at 9-under, a single stroke ahead of world No. 3 Rory McIlroy and two shots head of No. 2 Scottie Scheffler at Bay Hill.
Kitayama opened the day with a three-shot lead, but saw that disappear completely after making a triple-bogey on No. 9 after he hit his drive out of bounds. It wasn’t until the par-3 17th that Kitayama made a birdie again after sinking a near-14-footer — which gave him the solo lead once more.
Kitayama finished his day with an even-par 72, matching his score from Saturday, as he won his first PGA Tour title.