Many golf fans have wondered if Kyle Westmoreland, the rising PGA Tour star and Air Force veteran, is related to General William Westmoreland, the controversial commander of US forces in Vietnam. The rumor has been circulating on social media and golf forums, especially after Kyle’s impressive performance at the 2021 U.S. Open. However, there is no evidence to support this claim, and both men have different backgrounds and origins. Here is what we know about Kyle Westmoreland and General Westmoreland, and why they are not related.
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Who is Kyle Westmoreland?
Kyle Westmoreland is a 30-year-old professional golfer who was born in Lewisville, Texas, and currently lives in Katy, Texas. He is married to Erin, and they have a son named Brooks. Kyle started playing golf at the age of 10, and was inspired by his grandfather, who was also a golfer.
Kyle attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he was a standout player for the Falcons. He was named the male athlete of the year in 2014, after finishing fourth at the Mountain West Conference championships. He also won four individual titles during his college career.
After graduating from the academy, Kyle served five-and-a-half years on active duty in the Air Force, working as a financial management officer. He was stationed in Colorado, Texas, and South Korea. He also continued to play golf as an amateur, qualifying for several prestigious events such as the U.S. Amateur and the Palmer Cup.
In 2019, Kyle turned professional and joined the PGA Tour Canada. He also played on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020 and 2021, earning his PGA Tour card for the 2022-23 season via the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. He made his PGA Tour debut at the Sanderson Farms Championship in September 2021.
Kyle’s breakthrough moment came at the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, where he became the first Air Force Academy graduate to make the cut at a major championship. He finished in a tie for 68th place, earning praise from golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
Kyle is known for his patriotism, humility, and perseverance. He is also involved in several charitable causes, such as Birdies for the Brave and Folds of Honor. He is sponsored by RSM, a global audit, tax, and consulting firm that supports military veterans.
Who is General Westmoreland?
General William Westmoreland was a United States Army general who commanded US forces in Vietnam from 1964 to 1968. He was born in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, on March 26, 1914, to a wealthy family that owned a textile mill.
He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated as first captain of his class in 1936. He then served in various artillery units in Oklahoma, Hawaii, North Carolina, Tunisia, Sicily, England, France, Belgium, and Germany during World War II.
After the war, he commanded several airborne units in Japan and Korea during the Korean War. He also served as superintendent of West Point from 1960 to 1963.
In 1964, he was appointed as commander of US Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV), replacing General Paul Harkins. He oversaw the escalation of US involvement in Vietnam from about 16,000 advisors to more than 500,000 combat troops.
He adopted a strategy of attrition against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army, attempting to drain them of manpower and supplies by inflicting heavy casualties through superior firepower and air strikes. He also sought to secure key areas of South Vietnam and pacify the rural population.
However, his strategy faced several challenges and criticisms. The enemy proved resilient and adaptable, launching guerrilla attacks and avoiding decisive battles. The South Vietnamese government was corrupt and unpopular among its own people. The US public became increasingly disillusioned with the war after witnessing its human and financial costs.
Westmoreland’s credibility was damaged by several events during his tenure. In November 1967, he gave an optimistic speech before Congress and the media, claiming that “we have reached an important point when the end begins to come into view”. However, two months later, the enemy launched a massive surprise offensive during Tet (the lunar new year), attacking more than 100 cities and towns across South Vietnam.
Although Tet was a military failure for the communists who suffered heavy losses,
it was a political and psychological victory for them who exposed
the vulnerability of the US-backed regime and the
falsehood of Westmoreland’s claims. Westmoreland also requested 200,000 more troops to deal with the situation, which was rejected by President Lyndon Johnson.
In June 1968, Westmoreland was replaced by General Creighton Abrams as commander of MACV. He was promoted to Army Chief of Staff, a position he held until 1972. He retired from the military in 1972, and ran unsuccessfully for governor of South Carolina in 1974.
He later became involved in a libel lawsuit against CBS, which aired a documentary in 1982 accusing him of manipulating intelligence reports to deceive the public about the enemy’s strength. The case was settled out of court in 1985.
Westmoreland died on July 18, 2005, at the age of 91, in Charleston, South Carolina. He was buried at West Point Cemetery with full military honors.
There is no evidence that Kyle Westmoreland and General Westmoreland are related by blood or marriage. They have different origins, backgrounds, and family histories. They also have different physical features and accents.
Kyle Westmoreland is from Texas, while General Westmoreland is from South Carolina. Kyle’s grandfather was a golfer, while General Westmoreland’s father was a textile mill owner. Kyle’s last name is derived from an English place name meaning “western moorland”, while General Westmoreland’s last name is derived from an Anglo-Norman surname meaning “from the western moor”.
Kyle Westmoreland has never claimed or confirmed any relation to General Westmoreland. He has said that he admires the general as a fellow soldier and leader, but he does not consider him as a role model or an influence on his golf career.
The rumor that they are related seems to be based on their shared last name and their military service. However, this is not enough to establish a kinship between them. There are many people with the same or similar last names who are not related at all.
Therefore, it is safe to conclude that Kyle Westmoreland and General Westmoreland are not related, and that the rumor is false.
Conclusion
Kyle Westmoreland and General Westmoreland are two different men who have achieved success in their respective fields of golf and war. They share a common last name and a patriotic spirit, but they are not related by blood or marriage. The rumor that they are related is unfounded and untrue.
