South Korea’s Amy Yang survived a late stumble to claim her first major title in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Yang, who took a two-shot lead into the final round at Sahalee Country Club, carded a closing 72 to finish seven under par, three shots clear of her compatriot Jin Young Ko, the American Lilia Vu and Japan’s Miyu Yamashita.
The 34-year-old’s victory came in her 75th major, the most since Angela Stanford won the 2018 Evian Championship in her 76th major start.
Yang, who had recorded 19 previous top-10 finishes in majors, made the ideal start with a birdie at the 1st and recovered from a bogey on the 3rd with further birdies on the 5th and 8th.
The 8th proved a crucial hole as Yamashita and Lauren Hartlage both made double bogeys on the 426-yard par four, Hartlage having also taken six on the previous hole after thinning a bunker shot across the green.
Yang followed a bogey on the 10th with birdies on the 11th and 13th to seal the win in effect, before a bogey on the 16th and a double bogey on the 17th – where she found water off the tee – reduced her margin of victory.
“I’m lost for words right now,” Yang told NBC. “All the hard work our team did together, I’m so grateful for that. All four rounds was tough out there but I just trusted what I prepared and I did my best all week.
“I always wanted to win a major and came close several times and I started doubting myself if I was ever going to win a major before I retire and I’m so grateful and very, very happy to win one.”
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England’s Charley Hull finished in a tie for 16th after a closing 74, with Ireland’s Leona Maguire 24th after disappointing rounds of 75 and 76 over the weekend.