Kurt Kitayama became the fastest player to two wins in DP World Tour history when he claimed the Oman Open in in only his 11th career appearance. It came just a few months after his maiden victory at the Mauritius Open at the end of 2018. Since then he has reinforced his reputation as a rising star by winning one of the biggest titles on the PGA Tour, the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The 31-year-old puts a lot of his success down to hard work. He’s travelled all over the world in his pursuit to become the best player he can be, playing on a number of different tours in China, Asia, Japan, South Africa, and Australia.
You can’t afford to rest on your laurels in this game, however. In a sport where there’s such a fine margin at the top between success and failure, players are always looking to gain an edge.
Kitayama believes he’s found a way of getting that extra half a percent; he’s doing what a growing number of Tour players are, as well as recreational golfers - wearing headphones during practice, allowing him to zone in and get the most out of his range time.
The Californian has teamed up with Technics, a brand renowned for its innovation and never-ending pursuit of perfection. It's that kind of philosophy that Kitayama shares. He may look relaxed when he's wearing his earbuds in practice, but this is a player who's 100 percent focused on reaching the top.
What attracted you to partner with Technics?
"I’ve always thought partnering with a brand that has Japanese roots would be very special. My mother and father are both from Japan and having the opportunity to partner with a brand that was founded in their home country is a tremendous honor.
"I am a big fan of music, and I always wear headphones on the range when warming up at tournaments. The Technics brand is proving to be a premier player in the audio space."
What are some of your favorite features of the earbuds?
"The AZ80s are great wireless earbuds. I like how small they are, and the noise cancellation allows me to block out the outside noise and really focus when I’m practicing on the range.
"Wherever I am, though, whether it’s on the short game area, driving range, putting green, on the plane, or just zoning out at home, the noise cancelling really fits well into everyday life for me."
What sets the AZ80s apart from other products on the market?
"The noise cancelling feature on the AZ80s headphones is by far the best I’ve ever used."
How do you personally integrate the earbuds into your daily life, and what difference have they made for you?
"I love to hit balls on the range and listen to music. The first thing I do when I arrive at the range for my practice session is grab my headphones out of my bag."
If you could sum up your experience with Technics in one statement, what would it be?
"The product allows me to lock in and focus for my practice and pre-tournament round preparation."
Wearing headphones when you're practicing - whether that's on the driving range, putting green, or short game area - can help you to focus and keep out unwanted noise.
And for those who might find practicing a little laborious (maybe even boring), listening to a podcast or your favorite music can inject a bit more fun into your sessions.
As for the AZ80s, it's not just Kitayama who recognises the excellence of Technics' products. Indeed, the EAH-AZ80 headphones were named 'best earbuds overall' in TechRadar's best earbuds of 2024 listing.
'Just My Voice’ technology is designed to enhance vocal clarity by suppressing external sounds, allowing Kitayama to be heard clearly on phone calls in noisy environments, which you will sometimes get on a busy range.
Meanwhile, the multi-point connectivity to three devices at the same time allows him to switch automatically between his cell phone, laptop and tablet – so he can listen to his favorite music on his laptop and seamlessly switch to taking a call on his cell phone from his swing coach.
"Technics has got an awful lot right with the EAH-AZ80," says TechRadar. "Functionality, usability and an all-around feeling of proudful ownership all hit the mark.
"Delivering supremely balanced, detailed sound with triple-point connectivity and outstanding comfort, Technics has created a fantastic pair of buds that stand out even in a saturated market."
We might not all be able to swing a golf club like Kitayama, but we can learn a thing or two about the way he practices. Maybe it’s not so much as a game that’s played between the ears, so much as what you put in them.
