Kitayama recorded a four-under cumulative score at the BMW Championship to finish tied with Xander Schauffele for 26th.
Analysis:There was a lot on the line for Kitayama, who entered the week 28th in the FedExCup Standings, with the top-30 players in the Standings following the BMW Championship earning a spot in the TOUR Championship. Kitayama started out the tournament poorly with a two-over 72 first round, but he rebounded with back-to-back, two-under 68 scores. He looked like his spot in next week's TOUR was secure after going four-under through 12 holes in the final round, but he proceeded to card costly bogeys on holes 14 and 16. That ultimately led to him ending the event 31st in the FEC, joining Rickie Fowler and Bud Cauley as the three players to fall out of the top-30, with the trio replaced by Patrick Cantlay (solo second), Gary Woodland (T4) and Robert MacIntyre (T7). Kitayama's next opportunity to tee off at a PGA Tour event is Sept. 17 at the Biltmore Championship.
