Kurt Kitayama just proved that you don't need to be in a "Signature Event" to walk away with a life-changing stack of cash. Honestly, the way he tore through TPC Twin Cities in late July was nothing short of a clinic. While some fans were still recovering from the hangover of the British Open, the 2025 3M Open was busy handing out a massive $8.4 million purse.
Kitayama took the lion's share, pocketing exactly $1,512,000. That's a pretty sweet deal for four days of work in Blaine, Minnesota.
He didn't just stumble into it, though. The guy shot a blistering 60 on Saturday and followed it up with a 65 on Sunday. When the wind started kicking up on those final holes, most players would've blinked. Kitayama didn't. He finished at 23-under par, just a single stroke ahead of Sam Stevens.
Breaking Down the 3m open payouts 2025
The money in professional golf right now is getting a bit absurd, even for the "regular" tour stops. People tend to think if it's not a $20 million elevated event, the players are playing for peanuts. Wrong.
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Stevens, who finished solo second, still cleared $915,600. Think about that. You lose by one shot and you still take home nearly a million dollars. It's a wild time to be a pro golfer.
The drop-off after second place is where things get interesting. We had a massive logjam at third place with four different guys—Matt Wallace, David Lipsky, Pierceson Coody, and Jake Knapp—all finishing at 20-under. Because they tied, they had to split the prize money for positions three through six.
Each of those four players walked away with $410,025.
The Mid-Tier Grind
If you're wondering what it's like to grind out a top-10 finish, look at William Mouw and Alex Noren. They were part of a tie for 7th and earned $263,900.
Further down the list, names you definitely know—like Wyndham Clark and Chris Kirk—were still pulling in six figures. Clark finished T12 and made $186,900. Even if you had a "bad" week by superstar standards, like Max Homa or Rickie Fowler, you weren't going home empty-handed. Homa finished T39 and earned $34,860, while Fowler was part of a huge T28 group that took home $50,591 each.
Why This Specific Payout Schedule Was Critical
You've gotta remember the timing of this tournament. The 3m open payouts 2025 weren't just about the bank accounts; they were about survival.
This was one of the final chances for players to secure their spots in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. For guys like Kitayama, the win wasn't just about the $1.5 million. It was about the 500 FedEx Cup points that basically guaranteed him a seat at the table for the season-ending bonuses.
The pressure at TPC Twin Cities is unique. The course is known for having water on almost every hole. One bad swing on the 18th doesn't just cost you a trophy; it can literally cost you $600,000 in a heartbeat.
A Quick Look at the Top Earners:
- 1st Place: Kurt Kitayama - $1,512,000
- 2nd Place: Sam Stevens - $915,600
- T3 Finishers: $410,025 (Wallace, Lipsky, Coody, Knapp)
- T7 Finishers: $263,900 (Mouw, Noren, Kanaya)
- T10 Finishers: $220,500 (Goodwin, Gotterup)
The math is basically the standard PGA Tour distribution: 18% to the winner, roughly 10.9% to second, and it scales down from there.
The Amateur Factor
One of the cooler stories from the week was Michael La Sasso. He finished T44, which is a hell of an achievement for an amateur in a field of pros.
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But here's the kicker—and the part that always feels a bit unfair—he got exactly $0.00.
Because he maintained his amateur status, the $25,452 that would have gone to him was redistributed among the other pros who made the cut. It’s the price you pay for keeping your eligibility for college or other amateur prestigious events, but man, that's a tough check to leave on the table.
What This Means for 2026
Looking ahead, the 3m open payouts 2025 set a high bar for the "non-signature" circuit. As the PGA Tour continues to battle for eyes against LIV Golf, the purses have to stay competitive.
We saw players like Thorbjorn Olesen and Akshay Bhatia leading early on, only to fade late. In the past, a T25 finish might have been a "meh" week. Now, that T25 check is over $69,000.
If you are tracking these payouts for tax purposes or just because you’re a degenerate fan of the numbers, keep in mind that these are gross earnings. Caddies usually take 10% of a win, plus there's travel, coaching, and the inevitable tax man. Kitayama’s $1.5 million is probably closer to $800k by the time it hits his actual savings account.
Still, not a bad weekend in Minnesota.
Actionable Insights for Golf Fans:
- Monitor the Bubble: Always watch players ranked 60-80 in the FedEx Cup standings during the 3M Open; the payout and points here often decide their entire next season.
- Ties Matter: When betting or tracking, remember that tied positions split the total pool for those slots. A four-way tie for third is significantly less lucrative than a solo third.
- Check Amateur Status: If an amateur is high on the leaderboard, the "payout" rankings will shift, meaning the pro in 45th place actually gets the 44th place money.