Yang pulls off PGA breakthrough

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida – Y.E. Yang recorded his first PGA Tour win Sunday, closing out a one-shot victory over John Rollins at the Honda Classic.

The South Korean took command with three straight birdies on the front side and wouldn’t fold, picking up a two-year exemption and a check for $1,008,000. With the win, he qualified for next week’s CA Championship at Doral, plus earned an invitation to next month’s Masters.

Best known for beating Tiger Woods at the HSBC Champions in 2006, Yang pumped his fist in the air when his 50-footer for birdie stopped a foot away from the cup, sealing the victory. He finished at 9-under 271.

Rollins made birdie at the par-5 18th to get within two shots of Yang, who was one hole behind and in a greenside bunker at the par-3 17th. And when Yang’s 10-footer for par tailed right and stopped short, the lead – four shots earlier in the day – was down to one.

He cringed when his third shot sailed off target at the finishing hole, but coolly two-putted for the win.

“From 50 feet, it’s not easy to do that to win your first golf tournament,” Rollins said. “My hat’s off to him.”    (AP)