Brilliant Amy Yang clinches LPGA Tour Championship

MIAMI – South Korea’s Amy Yang claimed the biggest victory of her career on Nov 19, outduelling Japan’s Nasa Hataoka down the stretch to win the LPGA Tour Championship in Florida.

The Florida-based Yang carded a six-under 66 to complete a three-shot victory at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples and earn the US$2 million (S$2.7 million) first prize.

“I still can’t believe I did it,” said Yang, whose four previous LPGA titles all came in Asia. She finished at 27-under 261 for the week.

At 34, she is the oldest Tour player to win this term. She said: “Age is just a number. Never give up, just have a dream and work hard.”

Hataoka had been at the top of the leaderboard since the opening round, and went into the final day sharing the lead alongside Yang after shooting a 65 on Nov 18.

But, after going through the first 54 holes without shooting a single bogey, Hataoka finally blinked when it mattered most in a tense back-nine shoot-out with Yang.

The two women were level on 25 under heading to the par-three 16th, and it looked as if they would remain tied at the top after Yang missed a long putt for birdie and the solo lead.

Yet Hataoka bogeyed after missing her short par putt to leave Yang one shot up with two to play.

Yang said she was “really nervous” as they duelled down the stretch, knowing that Hataoka could seize the momentum at any moment.

“I had no idea where this was going,” Yang said. “All I could do was just stick to my game and trust it.”

American Alison Lee was joint second with a 66.

Her world No. 1 compatriot Lilia Vu finished six shots off the lead on 21 under after a seven-under final round. It was enough for her to secure the Rolex Player of the Year Award after winning four tournaments in 2023, including two major championships.

Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul was fifth on 20 under after a 66.

Meanwhile, Ludvig Aberg, 24, closed out a sensational rookie season with his first PGA Tour title on Nov 19, firing a nine-under 61 for a four-shot victory over Mackenzie Hughes in the RSM Classic.

The Swede, who turned pro in June, started the final round on the Seaside course at St Simons Island, Georgia, with a one-shot lead thanks to a third-round 61.

He then barely put a foot wrong, grabbing 10 birdies with one bogey for a 29-under total of 253.

Aberg cemented his rising star status, which had been building with a victory in the DP World Tour’s European Masters and a stellar performance in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory over the United States in Italy in September.

“It’s kind of beyond my dreams,” he said. “It’s really cool. To first off play on the PGA Tour, I have a lot of people to thank for that. It’s been so much fun, six months that I’ll never forget.

“This is what you dream of as a kid.” AFP, REUTERS