Air Force Captain Kyle Westmoreland looking to take flight at 2020 Join Facebook to connect with Kyle Westmoreland and others you may know. 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. And, you know, kind of have a foundation built that I wouldnt have had had I not been in the military.. 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. 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. General Westmoreland passed away on July 18, 2005, after battling Alzheimers. His go-to putting drill was to putt on a ruler. It gives me hope. That left Westmoreland to work on his short game at night in his room, or on the practice green. SAN DIEGO The steady stream of fighter jets roaring overhead mostly go unnoticed, background noise to the beautiful views and brilliant golf at Torrey Pines. While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, he had to juggle his duties as a captain with finding time to practice and play. He was also active in his squadron as a flight commander. Also Read: Are Brian Harman and Butch Harmon Related? 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. Viktor Hovland aces the 7th hole at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Which ball counts? 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. View the profiles of people named Kyle Westmoreland. So Ill play that, and Ill hit that interchangeably with a 2-iron. Golf Channel, All Rights Reserved. A top junior player in Katy, Texas, he had numerous offers to play college golf. Its a very controlled cut and I play that about 185 to 188 mph. Didnt quite work outIf youve got the ability, if youve got the game, the U.S. Open empowers you to pursue your dream., Kyle Westmoreland plays a shot from a bunker on the 13th hole during a practice round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines. 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. 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. Westmoreland did his best to keep his game sharp while serving. Facebook gives people the. Kyle Westmoreland - Wikipedia This is the big highlight," Koury told The Denver Gazette. Kyle Westmoreland becomes first USAFA grad to qualify for US Open The guy who misses the best is going to win. 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. 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. Westmoreland has serious speed off the tee, saying he tops out at 206 mph of ball speed with his driver. 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. Kyle Westmoreland PGA TOUR Player Profile, Stats, Bio, Career But as a Captain, Kyle had his priorities in place, which meant serving his country for the next five years. Player's Take: Kyle Westmoreland - PGATour 2023 Australian Golf Digest. Westmoreland is one of the few pro golfers left with a 1-iron in his bag. He chose to attend. Kyle Westmoreland (born September 20, 1991) is an American professional golfer. 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. While at the Nellis base between poses in front of the Thunderbirds F-16 fighter jets Westmoreland was able to catch up with his buddies who are currently serving in the military and stationed in Las Vegas. 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. No wonder hes hit so many on-line putts on Torrey Pines tricky greens this week. ", 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. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. And its why the U.S. Open being a true open again is another welcome sign that life is returning to something resembling normal. U.S. Open 2021: Meet Kyle Westmoreland, The First Air Force Veteran to Make Cut in a Major. Others in the field include Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, Brandt Snedeker and past winner Cameron Champ. The academy seemed hard, Westmoreland said. Just ask Kyle Westmoreland, the first Air Force Academy graduate to earn his PGA Tour card. Qualifying is a cherished part of what makes the Open the Open. 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. Grandfather's struggle provides a master's class in perspective for These are just a few examples, but experiment with a number of options at the top end of your set so youre ready for ever-changing golf course conditions. This helps with alignment, stroke path, and getting the ball rolling on your intended line. 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. Thats why he has three different shots, and he rarely if ever hits it at 100 percent of his power. Top 100 Courses in the U.S.: GOLFs all-new 2022-23 ranking is here! Its not the only option at the top end of his iron setup, though. Entries arrived from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 70 foreign countries. Lee Trevino, a former Marine, won the title in 1968, and the Army veteran nicknamed Sarge, Orville Moody, claimed the title a year later. Just remember, even if youre playing the worst round of your life, at least youre out playing golf. RELATED: Meet the Air Force captain teeing it up on the PGA Tour. However, theres no evidence of a familial connection between the late general and Kyle Westmorelands family. Kyle Westmoreland recaps his experience at the U.S. Open. Photo credit: Harry How/Getty Images. He and his sister were raised in Katy by their parents, Don and Kim Westmoreland. Westmoreland qualified after shooting a seven-under-par 135 at the qualifier at the Dallas . Everything you need to know for the final round at Bay Hill. 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. I play with kind of three different driver swings, Westmoreland said. Privacy Policy. "It makes you feel right at home," he said. 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. Kyle Westmoreland Scorecards | ESPN Latest on Kyle Westmoreland including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN U.S. Open: Kyle Westmoreland is first Air Force Academy grad - Golfweek written by Matthew Wilson June 20, 2021 3:29 pm. 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. Volition America donates a portion of its profits to the Folds of Honor, a foundation that provides educational scholarships to the families of fallen soldiers, and Westmoreland wears the Puma x Volition America apparel proudly. He had five years of service to finish first. He is survived by his wife and kids. The next PGA Tour season starts in Napa, California, at the Fortinet Championship, Sept. 15-18. PGA TOUR Stats, bio, video, photos, results, and career highlights [4], He has also had status on PGA Tour Canada. For regular citizen golfers, theres an important lesson that can be learned here. 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. 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. Westmoreland, 30, finished in the 25th and final spot in the points standings. For Westmoreland, that means taking advantage of his prodigious length. He is now the first and only Air Force Academy graduate to earn a PGA TOUR card. 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. Critics say new PGA Tour events copy LIV. I know who I am now and what my priorities are. He and his sister were raised in Katy by their parents, Don and Kim Westmoreland. 7 interesting gear finds inside Tommy Fleetwood's golf bag | Bag Spy, Upgrade your bag with these Arnold Palmer head covers, How to prevent golf-club damage | Fully Equipped Mailbag, Don't risk buying counterfeit golf clubs | Fully Equipped podcast, FIRST LOOK: PXG launches its first golf ball the PXG Xtreme, New PXG golf clubs for 2023 (drivers, irons, fairway woods, hybrids) | ClubTest 2023, How a PXG fitting helped this 12-handicap pick up nearly 20 yards | 2023 ClubTest, FIRST LOOK: PXG's new 0211 drivers, fairway woods and hybrids, FIRST LOOK: PXG's 0317 ST Blade irons are geared for the elite ball-striker, How this golf-equipment company is helping to make the game more diverse and inclusive, PXG enters uncharted territory with latest equipment release. Westmoreland has made history this week, becoming the first player from the Air Force Academy to qualify . All rights reserved. He worked in South Carolina. Sink Navy. 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.. Typically, our Fully Equipped podcast focuses on golf equipment industry news, club reviews and gear education. 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. Westmorelands journey to Torrey Pines is one of the more unique ones in the 156-player field. Weekends allowed time to really grind. Air Force grad (and pro golfer) Kyle Westmoreland: 5 things I learned On his way to a deployment in Africa, Westmoreland spent a week in Roda, Spain, where he could only rent one club per day. But perhaps an ace is exactly what this ace pilot needed to jumpstart his season. Go Air Force. Watch a former Air Force captain make his first PGA Tour hole-in-one in
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