South Korean Golfer Yang Yong-eun earns 1st senior PGA title
Yang Yong-eun, the 2009 PGA Championship winner, claimed his first senior PGA title at the Ascension Charity Classic, held at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis. This victory marked Yang's first PGA Tour Champions win in his 72nd start since joining the senior circuit, which is for golfers aged 50 and over.
Yang secured the title by defeating Bernhard Langer, who has an impressive 46 senior victories, in a sudden-death playoff. Both players finished the regular 54 holes tied at 13-under 200, with Yang shooting a five-under 66 in the final round, and Langer scoring a 64. In the playoff, Yang clinched the win by sinking a birdie putt from about six feet, while Langer missed his 10-foot attempt.
This win makes Yang the second Korean golfer to capture a title on the senior circuit, following Choi Kyoung-ju. Yang is also famously known for his 2009 PGA Championship victory, where he held off Tiger Woods, becoming the only Korean golfer to win a men's major title.
Reflecting on his win, Yang expressed his happiness, noting the significance of the victory in St. Louis, where he has fond memories. He acknowledged being nervous facing a seasoned competitor like Langer but focused on his own game, which paid off. Yang also mentioned that he has been playing well throughout the year and is looking forward to finishing the season on a high note.
