He is a longtime disciple of kickboxing and Muay Thai and taught hand-to-hand combat at the Air Force Academy.. 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. Since then, Kyle has been working his way through Qualifying School and the Korn Ferry Tour to make his way to the PGA TOUR. He played golf in the U.S. Air Force Academy where he was named male athlete of the year in 2014. Its a very controlled cut and I play that about 185 to 188 mph. 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. Arnold Palmer Invitational pres. 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. Each member firm is responsible only for its own acts and omissions, and not those of any other party. Which ball counts? Qualifying is a cherished part of what makes the Open the Open. Kyle Westmoreland | Team RSM PGA TOUR Stats, bio, video, photos, results, and career highlights He said, Figure out what youre good at and get really good at it, Westmoreland said. SRP: $379.95 BOA; $329.95 lace HyperFlex Finely tuned Read more. 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. Join Facebook to connect with Kyle Westmoreland and others you may know. 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. 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. The USGA announced on Thursday four additional exemption categories to the U.S. Open. 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. It doesnt have enough spin or loft to leave the fairway. 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. To perform the drill, simply setup a ruler (preferably a yardstick for its longer length), on a flat surface. He has the pedigree, too: his grandfather Bob was a left tackle and . Westmoreland qualified after shooting a seven-under-par 135 at the qualifier at the Dallas . Even under pressure, I'm performing well. His go-to putting drill was to putt on a ruler. For Westmoreland, that means taking advantage of his prodigious length. Westmorelands dream was deferred five years but hes made it to his first major before 30 and says hes better for it. After narrowly earning his tour card in September, Westmoreland said, "I don't drink, but I need a beer." He is now the first and only Air Force Academy graduate to earn a PGA TOUR card. And its why the U.S. Open being a true open again is another welcome sign that life is returning to something resembling normal. If he had it his way, actually, Westmoreland says he wouldnt even have his name stitched onto his PXG staff bag. It basically goes the same distance, but Im pretty much never gonna miss the face with the driver. 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. I know who I am now and what my priorities are. "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. It's been a rough rookie campaign so far for the 31-year-old with six missed cuts in eight starts. Beat Army. 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. ", "It's frustrating in the moment when it's happening, but afterwards for me now, I don't really care as much. RELATED: Meet the Air Force captain teeing it up on the PGA Tour. 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 - Wikipedia He's the first Air Force Academy graduate to earn a @PGATOUR card. Air Force Captain Kyle Westmoreland looking to take flight at 2020 You might be the one who has to execute the shots, but surround yourself with positive people who understand your goals and want to help you achieve them. 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. Just ask Kyle Westmoreland, the first Air Force Academy graduate to earn his PGA Tour card. For men like Captain Westmoreland who have clawed their way into the field at one of the most prestigious championships in golf, this week is about dreams coming true, of a lifetime of hard work, of perseverance paying off. "@Kyle_West_ played collegiality @AF_Golf and completed a five-year service commitment in the @USAirForce before pursuing professional golf. written by Matthew Wilson June 20, 2021 3:29 pm. Westmoreland has bench-pressed upwards of 375 pounds and squatted in excess of 500. US Open 2021: Meet Kyle Westmoreland, Air Force Vet Who Made Cut - Outsider Everything you need to know for the final round at Bay Hill. 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. Kyle Westmoreland (born September 20, 1991) is an American professional golfer. HyperFlex Carbon The new HyperFlex Carbon offers tour-proven enhancements, delivering unquestioned innovation, comfort, stability and visual design. Second is a cruise, we call it cruising speed. Kyle Westmoreland's journey to pro golf began at the Air Force Academy. But thats a story for another day. View the profiles of people named Kyle Westmoreland. They are friends and frequent competitors back home in Charleston at Daniel Island Club despite the inter-service rivalry. 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. Since he began advancing in the golf scene with his intriguing military background, social media users are questioning a possible connection between him and General William Westmoreland. Westmoreland, 30, finished in the 25th and final spot in the points standings. Kyle Westmoreland becomes first Air Force Academy graduate to earn a https://www.usopen.com/watch/features/2021/06/15/backstories-with-baileykyle-westmoreland6258979517001.html. A top junior player in Katy, Texas, he had numerous offers to play college golf. By signing up, you agree to the He made the cut in the 2021 U.S. Open, becoming the first Air Force Academy graduate to do so. Also Read: Are Brian Harman and Butch Harmon Related? 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. I can't wait to play another tournament., Jon Rahm is a big believer in karma. ). "For me and the Air Force golf program, this is it. Westmoreland thriving at U.S. Open after Air Force service - Yahoo! News Entries arrived from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 70 foreign countries. (Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada) With the frame of a linebacker, standing at 6 feet 3 . Typically, our Fully Equipped podcast focuses on golf equipment industry news, club reviews and gear education. Kyle Westmoreland PGA TOUR Player Profile, Stats, Bio, Career Remember, not all golf courses are the same, so your 14-club equipment setup doesnt always have to be the same either. But as a Captain, Kyle had his priorities in place, which meant serving his country for the next five years. 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. 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. 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. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. 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. ClubTest Proving Ground: Do PXG's 0211 XCOR2 irons live up to the hype? He worked in South Carolina. Westmoreland has made history this week, becoming the first player from the Air Force Academy to qualify for the U.S. Open. Find a fitting location near you at GOLFs affiliate companyTrueSpecGolf. Copyright 1996 - He practiced with a purpose and capitalized on every opportunity he could. 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. These are dollar and a dream stories, and this year 19 U.S. Open qualifiers advanced through both local and final qualifying. 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. U.S. Open: Full-field scores | Full coverage. I wanted to challenge myself. Five years of service did nothing to blunt his game. Seek assistance from golf instructors, professional equipment fitters and fitness specialists who can help you improve and want to see you succeed. Facebook gives people the. So Ill play that, and Ill hit that interchangeably with a 2-iron. He worked hard, he continues to work hard and its awesome to see him have some fruits of that labor, Koury said. Andrew Tursky is the Senior Equipment Editor at GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com. Join Facebook to connect with Kyle Westmoreland and others you may know. 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. But they play three times a year; enjoying golf has become a great pastime of theirs and it blows off steam. To show his gratitude for his team, though, Westmoreland displays military badges from various Air Force members and military squadrons. The pro golf made quite the distinction, becoming the first Air Force veteran to qualify in the Majors. He and his sister were raised in Katy by their parents, Don and Kim Westmoreland. A professional golf career would have to wait. His access to golf. Viktor Hovland aces the 7th hole at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Kyle Westmoreland, a product of the U.S. Air Force Academy, is 2021s rising golf star. 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. 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational: How to watch, TV schedule, streaming, tee times, Meet the new GOLF Top 100 Teachers of America, 7 interesting gear finds inside Tommy Fleetwoods golf bag | Bag Spy, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, Westmoreland with his some friends from the Air Force. U.S. Open: Kyle Westmoreland is first Air Force Academy grad - Golfweek 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. One day it would be a 6-iron, a 7-iron the next, an 8-iron after that anything to play and stay sharp. Im in a better mental headspace, he said. Rules Review: I thought my ball was lost and put another in play, then found my first in the hole(!) 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. He earned $122,575 in on-course winnings during the 2022 campaign. So we have a full swing that goes to about 195. [5], In 2022, Westmoreland played on the Korn Ferry Tour with a best finish of T-7th place at AdventHealth Championship.[6]. Air Force Academy Athletics The time in the Air Force served him well. Kyle Westmoreland had a status in PGA Tour Canada. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information (California). With a rigorous schedule, Kyle carved time out whenever he could to try and keep his golf skills sharp. [2][3] He was medalist at local qualifying during the qualification process. Kyle Westmoreland PGA TOUR Player Profile, Stats, Bio, Career His father introduced him to golf when he was seven and he has been on the greens since. 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. But it doesnt have to be a stressor, it can be a stress reliever. 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. 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. 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. We know what you're thinking after reading that headline: Any hole-in-one is spectacular. On his way to a deployment in Africa, Westmoreland spent a week in Roda, Spain, where he could only rent one club per day. Kyle Westmoreland becomes first Air Force player to make cut at U.S [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. Critics say new PGA Tour events copy LIV. 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. 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. 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. 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 . Westmoreland's journey to Torrey Pines is one of the more unique ones in the 156-player field. Rules of Golf Review: How do I find my nearest point of relief? However, the golfers family has no evident relation to the former chief of staff of the U.S. Army. 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. Sink Navy. That left Westmoreland to work on his short game at night in his room, or on the practice green. I go through a few days not hitting it well Im like, uh, whats going on. Golf can be confusing and frustrating, but you dont have to go at it alone. 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. Kyle had a strong 2022 season on the Korn Ferry Tour, as he had three top-10 finishes and was 13th on Tour in driving distance. It gives me hope. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. He is survived by his wife and kids. 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.