Amy Yang earned her first major victory after scoring an emphatic three-shot victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Washington.
Yang took a two-shot lead into the final day at Sahalee Country Club and never left first place in an impressive display, where she increased her lead to seven shots before faltering late on her final holes .
The world number 25 dropped three shots over a two-hole stretch but held enough of an advantage to give the chasing pack little hope, with Yang closing a level par 72 to finish comfortably ahead of a three-way tie for second place.
Amy Yang had 12 previous top-five finishes in major tournaments without a win
Her playing partner Miyu Yamashita shared second place alongside former world number 1s Lilia Vu and Jin Young Ko, while Lauren Heritage – in the final group – shared fifth place with Ally Ewing on three under.
How Yang Got a Major Breakthrough
Yang fired his approach from close range to set up a birdie on the first hole, but failed to take advantage of the par five afterward, allowing playing partners Hartlage and Yamashita to get back to within two by converting their birdie opportunities.
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The Korean responded to a bogey at the third by chipping in from the fifth green to match Hartlage’s birdie and stay ahead, then avoided a bogey at the next par five despite discovering a horror lie in the sand with his approach.
Hartlage made a double bogey at the seventh and allowed Yang to make it five clear with a birdie at the next par four, the day’s leader still in control of the tournament despite starting her back nine with a bogey.
Yang then birdied the par five and made an eight-foot birdie at the par-three 13th, putting him six clear when Vu – playing several groups in front – undid part of his three birdies on the back nine with a dropped shot. at 14.
The lead briefly grew to seven until Yang followed a three-putt bogey at the 16th with double bogey on the par three next, after finding water on the tee, although she was still able to parry the last and achieve the biggest victory of his career. .
“I’m at a loss for words right now,” Yang said. “I always wanted to win a major tournament and I came close several times. I started to wonder if I would ever win a major tournament before I retired, because I have been on tour since a while, but I’m very grateful and very happy to do it!”
Lexi Thompson recovered from her eight-over score after eight holes to salvage a two-over 74 and finish the week tied for ninth, with Linn Grant the top-scoring European also finishing the week one under.
Lexi Thompson finished the week tied for ninth despite a shocking start to her final round
England’s Charley Hull posted a two-over 74 to finish the week one-over, with Céline Boutier still behind and Ireland’s Leona Maguire finishing with four-over after rounds of 75 and 76 this weekend.
And after?
The LPGA Tour is moving to team golf for its next event, with the Dow Championship taking place at Midland Country Club in Michigan starting Thursday and live coverage of the final two rounds on Sky Sports.
There are two major women’s tournaments remaining this year, both live on Sky Sports, with the Amundi Evian Championship in France taking place July 11-14 before the AIG Women’s Open taking place at St Andrews from August 22-25. Stream the LPGA Tour, majors and more, contract-free, with NOW.
