Amy Yang leaves no doubt, wins Women’s PGA Championship

SEATTLE – South Korea’s Amy Yang ended a creeping doubt by capturing her long-awaited first Major title on June 23, hanging on late for a three-stroke victory at the Women’s PGA Championship in her 75th Major start.

She fired a level-par 72 to stand on seven-under 281 after 72 holes at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington.

Despite some late struggles, that was enough to claim the US$1.56 million (S$2.1 million) top prize. Compatriot Ko Jin-young, Japan’s Miyu Yamashita and American Lilia Vu shared second on 284.

“I’m at a loss for words right now,” Yang said. “All four rounds it was tough out there, but I did my best.”

Vu added: “I know she’s a really solid player and knows how to win. Obviously it’s working for her and she’s played so well, so congrats to her.”

World No. 25 Yang, who had 21 top-10 Major finishes without a victory, won her first Major in her 17th LPGA Tour season at age 34.

“I always wanted to win a Major and I came close several times and I started doubting myself if I’m ever going to win a Major before I retire because I’ve been on tour for quite a while. I’m so grateful and very happy to win a Major,” she said.

The two-time US Open runner-up claimed her fifth LPGA title at last November’s Tour Championship, her first win on US soil.

Despite a large lead, Yang faced some tense moments down the stretch. Yang made her second three-putt bogey of the week at the 16th, trimming her lead to five.

After her group was given a time warning, Yang plunked her tee shot into the water at the par-three 17th and made double-bogey, slicing her lead to three over Ko and Vu.

At the par-five 18th, Yang found the fairway but sent her second shot into the left rough short of the green. She pitched her third shot onto the green and two-putted for par from just inside 12 feet for the triumph.

World No. 22 Yamashita, a 22-year-old with 11 wins on the LPGA Japan Tour, closed with a birdie to shoot 73 and grab a share of second. Vu and Ko carded 71s.

Americans Ally Ewing (71) and Lauren Hartlage (74) shared fifth on 285. Hartlage, ranked 272nd, managed her first top-five LPGA finish.

Ewing appeared to just miss out on qualifying for the Paris Olympics. She needed to climb four spots in the top 15 on June 24.

“If the rankings come out tomorrow and I’m an Olympian, that would be great,” the 31-year-old said. “It would be really special.”

Yang, who began the day with a two-stroke lead over Yamashita and Hartlage, opened with a tap-in birdie and answered a bogey at the third with a birdie at the par-three fifth, holing out from off the green from 67 feet. Yamashita sank a six-foot birdie putt at the second to stay within two of Yang.

Hartlage birdied the par-five second from just inside 12 feet and holed out from just inside 45 feet to birdie the par-three fifth to pull within one.

But, after a horseshoe lip-out on a birdie putt from inside five feet at the par-five sixth, Hartlage fell back with double-bogeys at the seventh and eighth, ending her run of 35 holes without dropping a shot.

Yang sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the eighth, while Yamashita found rough and a greenside bunker on her way to a double-bogey that left Yang five strokes ahead on nine under with 10 holes to play.

Yang stumbled with a bogey at the 10th but answered with a tap-in birdie at the par-five 11th, although Yamashita sank a 12-foot birdie putt on that hole to stay within four strokes.

Yamashita bogeyed No. 12, but Vu charged within four by starting the back nine with three consecutive birdies.

Yang responded with a birdie putt from just outside four feet at the par-three 13th and Vu made bogeys at Nos. 14 and 15 to leave Yang ahead by six until her closing struggles. AFP, REUTERS