Amy Yang is lastly a serious champion. After 75 begins and 16 years on the LPGA, she received the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship by 4 photographs.
She carded an even-par 72 on Sunday to complete at 7-under for the match.
“It’s unbelievable,” Yang mentioned after her win.
“I used to be so nervous in the beginning of the day, even the evening earlier than, and I informed Jan [Meierling] on the 18th fairway that this had been the longest 18 holes I’ve ever performed in my profession.”
The 34-year-old has come shut so many instances in several majors however might by no means recover from the hump. She entered the week with 21 Top-10s and 12 top-5s in majors. Last 12 months, Yang even tied for fourth twice.
Throughout the spherical on Sunday, doubt lurked behind her thoughts, however it will definitely subsided.
“I feel I managed to remain properly and keep constructive, and naturally, with him as properly, he makes issues gentle on the market,” she mentioned.
“You know, at one level, I believed, will I ever win a serious championship earlier than I retire? And I lastly did it, and it’s simply wonderful.”
Yang got here into the ultimate spherical with a two-shot lead however prolonged it instantly with a birdie on the par-4 1st.
She then dropped a shot on the third however added two extra birdies on her entrance 9 to maintain the momentum. Another bogey got here on the tenth, however Yang bounced again with two birdies over the following three holes.
The main championship strain will need to have hit her down the stretch, although. Yang bogeyed 16 and double-bogeyed the seventeenth, however she had a big sufficient lead in order that she didn’t should sweat these three dropped photographs.
“I’ve realized so many instances—give attention to what I can management on the golf course and hold doing what I’ve been doing,” Yang mentioned.
“I informed myself possibly greater than a thousand instances on the market, do what I ready and what you’ve been doing at follow.”
She made par on the 18th to beat Lilia Vu, Jin Young Ko, and Miyu Yamashita by three.
Many individuals gave her a champagne shower on the 18th inexperienced to congratulate her on the massive victory.
The crowd ready for her was large. Throughout her profession, Yang has grow to be one of many extra well-liked gamers among the many different women and caddies.
She lastly received over the hump, however she took the time to mirror on all the things.
“Golf is basically like a combat in opposition to myself,” Yang mentioned. “I proved to myself that I can compete and do that, so it was a great studying week.”
Yang now has six LPGA victories underneath her belt after she received the 2023 CME Group Tour Championship final 12 months. This breakthrough victory might be large for her as two majors are left within the ladies’s season.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For extra golf protection, you should definitely comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
