Yang Yong-eun, 71 Attempts and 72 Successes... 'I am Also a Senior Champion'

Victory in Ohsension Charity Classic After Playoff
Debuted in 2022, Prize Money 420 Million Won
Langer Runner-up, Sink Third, Choi Kyung-ju Tied 60th

"The Wind Man" Yang Yong-eun has reached the top of the Senior Tour for the first time.

Yang Yong-eun is celebrating after making a birdie on the 11th hole of the final 3rd round at the Ascension Charity Classic. [St. Louis=AFP·Yonhap News]

On the 8th (local time), at the final 3rd round of the Ascension Charity Classic on the PGA Tour Champions held at Norwood Hills CC (par 71, 6,992 yards) in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Yang shot a 5-under-par 66 to tie with Bernhard Langer (Germany) at 13-under-par 200. Then, on the first hole of the sudden-death playoff at the 18th hole (par 4), he made the "winning birdie." Since debuting on the Champions Tour for players aged 50 and over in 2022, he earned his first victory in his 72nd tournament. The winner's prize money was $315,000 (approximately 420 million KRW).

Yang Yong-eun started tied for the lead with a 2-stroke difference, recording one eagle, four birdies, and one bogey. He smoothly proceeded with consecutive birdies on holes 1 and 2 but was halted by a bogey on the 7th hole (par 3). However, he changed the momentum with a "2-on 1-putt eagle" on the 8th hole (par 5), then added birdies on the 11th and 17th holes to finally take a one-stroke lead. In the playoff, his tee shot, iron shot, and putt harmonized perfectly to defeat the "Senior Tour powerhouse" Langer.

Yang Yong-eun is the player who defeated Tiger Woods (USA) at the 2009 PGA Championship, becoming the first player from an Asian country to win a major tournament. He has been competing on the Champions Tour since 2022, after achieving two PGA Tour wins. Before winning this tournament, he had two runner-up finishes and three third-place finishes. Right after his victory, Yang exclaimed, "I am so happy to win after three years on the Senior Tour."

Bernhard Langer (Germany), who has accumulated 46 wins on the Senior Tour, showed a fierce late surge by shooting 6-under-par. He finished as runner-up after losing in the playoff. Stewart Cink (USA), who was co-leader the previous day, lowered his score by 4 strokes but fell to 3rd place (12-under-par 201). He has earned one win since joining the Champions Tour this year. From Korea, Wi Chang-su tied for 51st place (1-over-par 214), and Choi Kyung-ju, winner of the major tournament The Senior Open Championship, finished tied for 60th place (3-over-par 216).