From Runways to Fairways: Kyle Westmoreland Takes Advantage of Common Ground Between Military Service, Professional Golf
By Doug Milne
Depending on who you ask, one’s golf game may be self-described as an action which induces tunnel vision and/or blackouts, the result of a loss of blood to the brain.
For Kyle Westmoreland, those potential hazards have all been just part of the job. Not his golf job, mind you, but the job that’s made him one heck of a tough dude on runways – and fairways.
For clarification, Westmoreland – a 2014 United States Air Force Academy graduate and U.S. Air Force captain – also happens to be a new member of the 9G Club. Said club is reserved for individuals who, while piloting a flight, have experienced a high acceleration of 9 G-forces (nine times the force of gravity). With it being such a massive feat of physical endurance, it truly can cause a loss of blood to the brain, tunnel vision or blackouts.
“The 9G experience was a few seconds, but it was pretty awesome,” Kyle said. “It’s crazy, I’ve never experienced anything like it. I didn’t throw up, didn’t pass out, so I called it a win. It was just really cool, really cool for me.”
With all that said, it would stand to reason that someone so driven by such fast-paced activity would balk at the idea of ambling down fairways for something as seemingly mundane as golf. Kyle, though, thinks otherwise and has got the game – plus results – to back up the pursuit.
While serving in the Armed Forces, Kyle, now 33 years old, adhered to both resilience and determination while pursuing his love for golf. While stationed at Charleston Air Force Base as a finance officer, he managed to balance military service commitments with his pursuit of an improved game.
“It’s very structured. You’re marching in the morning at 6:30 a.m. to classes, which go to about 12:30 p.m. You march to lunch, and after lunch you might have another class or you might start workouts about 2 p.m. Golf would go from 3-6 p.m. Then, you’re back going to dinner and then you’re back in the squadron doing your homework or whatever you had to do to get ready for the next day.”
With all he had stacked on his schedule, it stands to reason that golf – or anything outside of the job at hand – would be a challenge.
“I think what it taught me is that I can have a lot of stuff on my plate and be a little bit overwhelmed, but if I organize and I execute how I think I should, then you can accomplish a lot,” said Kyle. “It made me a better on and off the course through that time and in my service time.”
The Lewisville, Texas native played four years at the United States Air Force Academy, posting four individual victories between 2010 and 2014.
“I knew golf was the goal. In that fiveyear time we kind of did everything we could to improve on and off the golf course,” Westmoreland said. “It really left me with the perspective that golf is a great game. It is what we do, not who we are. It kind of gave me the foundation that we take into golf and the outlook that we take into the game. I think golf is completely different, but the commonality in golf is like your time in the Air Force Academy. You learn to endure the tougher times and celebrate the better times.”
After fulfilling his Air Force commitment in 2019, Kyle committed to professional golf full time. The effort resulted in successfully navigating his way through Q-School to earn Korn Ferry Tour status.
Among 12 cuts made in 40 starts on the PGA TOUR between 2019 and 2025 was the 2021 U.S. Open (T68). In doing so, he became the first United States Air Force Academy graduate to make a U.S. Open cut.
With his rookie year on TOUR in 2022-23, Westmoreland became the first United States Air Force Academy graduate to earn a PGA TOUR card. He has since been joined by Tom Whitney (Korn Ferry Tour Class of 2023).
Though he would make a return to the Korn Ferry Tour after that 2022-23 season, in typical Westmoreland fashion, he found the drum of silver linings to march to.
“The plan was not to fall back to the Korn Ferry Tour, but that’s what happened,” he said. “I’m so thankful for the lessons learned on the PGA TOUR. We’ll learn from them and take them when we get back there, but right now we’re focusing on getting back there and then playing at the highest level.”
While many aspects of professional golf and the Armed Forces may be worlds apart, Westmoreland has found overlapping and beneficial mindsets.
“That daily process of focusing on what you can do right now is what the Air Force taught me,” he explained. “I think one of the great commonalities between the Air Force Academy, military and golf is investing in the process, building the team around you, taking your first step and keep going.”
That ability to keep going, Kyle believes, is the most common quality between the two. The Korn Ferry Tour has served as the primary stage for Kyle to build upon that belief.
“I think the Korn Ferry Tour is in a great spot. It’s the best competition it’s ever been, and it’s only getting better,” he said. “With the changes to the PGA TOUR, it’s really become not only an opportunity for first go ’round guys, but also guys who are falling back. With only 100 cards this year it’s going to continue to get better and better.”
By virtue of seven top-25 finishes in 21 starts, Westmoreland finished No. 38 on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Points List to earn fully exempt status for the 2025 season.
“The Korn Ferry Tour has gotten more competitive, courses have grown and gotten better and fan bases have gotten bigger,” Westmoreland continued on the merits of Korn Ferry Tour experience. “I think people know more names playing Korn Ferry Tour events than they ever have. I just think it’s in such a good spot as far as quality of fields go.”
In his 61st Korn Ferry Tour start, Westmoreland won the Astara Golf Championship in Bogota in February, highlighted by a third-round 10-under 61 – his career-best 18-hole score.
“It was great to get the win,” Kyle said. “The goal is to win at every level, right? (It was about) being able to get that done, learning how to do it and validating that your process is right. It was awesome for me to be able to get that done and know when I’m playing at my best, I can get it done. I think I can get it on any level.”
In advance of the upcoming Ascendant presented by Blue at TPC Colorado, it was fitting for a gentleman with such strong ties to the Centennial State to speak of his enthusiasm to return for the 2025 event. Last year, rounds of 69-67-72-70 resulted in a T42 at 10-under 278.
“(The Ascendant) has two times been Tournament of the Year. It could be Tournament of the Year every year from player amenities,” he said. “From the clubhouse to the range and course to the fan experience. It’s awesome for us. I went to school there and then back to teach there. I just have a lot of respect for that community. They’re very supportive of the tournament.”
With more than 30 members of the media on the Zoom platform for the press conference, golf wasn’t the exactly the focus of all questions. A particular experience with the Thunderbirds certainly – and understandably – came up.
“Flying with the Thunderbirds was incredible,” he said. “A guy a year ahead of me at the Air Force Academy on the Thunderbirds team called me a few months ago and asked if I would be interested. It took me about a second and a half to say ‘yes’. The crazy part is it was on Wednesday of Raleigh. I left Tuesday afternoon and flew to Colorado. Crazy, crazy journey. I made it to Colorado Springs that evening, got up early the next morning, went all day and then flew back out on the redeyed to Raleigh to play on Thursday. It was quite the experience but completely worth it. It was awesome.”
And, once again, there were no needs for motion sickness bags or smelling salts.