Y.E. Yang watches his shot onto the green on the fourth hole during the final round of the Kaulig Companies Championship golf tournament at Firestone Country Club, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Akron, Ohio. Y.E. Yang of South Korea sank his birdie putt on the first playoff hole to defeat the hard-charging Bernhard Langer and win his first PGA Tour Champions title at the Ascension Charity Classic on Sunday in St. Louis.
Yang led the tournament after 18 holes and shared the 36-hole lead with Stewart Cink before shooting a final-round, 5-under-par 66 at Norwood Hills Country Club to post 13-under 200.
But Langer, the German with more wins on the PGA Tour Champions (46) than anyone in history, entered the picture with a 7-under 64 that featured eight birdies, including a right-to-left putt on the par-4 18th hole to force the playoff.
They replayed No. 18, and after Langer missed a birdie try, Yang’s midrange putt was true. He pumped his fist as the ball disappeared into the cup.
Yang, 52, is best known for defeating Tiger Woods at the 2009 PGA Championship. He hadn’t won a professional event on American soil since then.
“It was very long-time goal, but Champions, (winning in) just third year, I think is good,” Yang told reporters.
“Today I think (is a) special, special day.”
Langer said his birdie attempt on the playoff hole looked very similar to the putt he made to force the playoff.
“Broke about a cup and a half, so I played it about the same,” Langer said. “Just stayed a little high, so it just went over the right edge or on the outside, on the high side.”
Langer turned 67 late last month. After shooting a 67 on Saturday, he beat that number by three Sunday, marking his 18th time shooting his age or lower on the PGA Tour Champions. He would have preferred to cap it off with another trophy.
“Yeah, for me it would’ve meant to win another tournament at age 67. I don’t think that has been done out here,” Langer said. “But we’ll see. Maybe it happens some weeks in the future.”
Cink shot a 4-under 67 to finish alone in third at 12 under. His par-bogey-par finish prevented him from joining Yang and Langer in the playoff.
Shane Bertsch holed seven birdies and no bogeys to match Langer’s 64 for the round of the day. He moved into a tie for fourth at 9 under with Justin Leonard (67).
–Field Level Media