Amy Yang ended the 2023 LPGA Tour season with an impressive three-shot victory at the CME Group Tour Championship in Florida.
The 34-year-old South Korean, whose previous win on the LPGA Tour came in the 2019 Honda LPGA Thailand, beat off competition from Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and America’s Alison Lee to earn her fifth career LPGA Tour triumph and claim the $2m prize.
The World no. 36 entered the final round at Tiburon Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Naples tied for the lead alongside Hataoka but the Hataoka stormed into a three-shot lead following the first five holes.
Both Yang and Hataoka were neck-and-neck with each other as the final round continued but Yang’s eagle on the par-four 13th proved to be the pivotal moment in the round. Heading into the final hole, Yang had a two-shot advantage and she cemented victory with a birdie to finish the tournament with a record-breaking 27 under.
“It means everything to me and thank you so much everyone for waiting for me and congratulating me on my first win in the US, Yang said.
“I always wanted to win my first one in the US and this is just special. It is just a great honour to have my first win here.
“The eagle was good momentum going through but I was so nervous going down the stretch.”
World No. 1, Lilia Vu, ended the tournament in fourth on 21 under which sealed her as the LPGA player of the season which she dedicated to her late grandfather.
“It means a lot. I mean, I think this whole entire season I’ve played for my grandpa,” said Vu.
“Once I lost him at the beginning of COVID, I think I just always keep him in the back of my mind and just trust myself and not give up.
“All the hard work, everything I’ve been through in my rookie not being great, and just keep pushing and growing and trying to be better.
“I think he would be really proud.
“There was a lot of learning moments, very up and down, and, yeah, I just know how to plan my schedule better next year.
“I know what to do, and that makes me excited for off-season and planning what I want for next year.”
The 2024 campaign of the LPGA Tour will tee off with the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions taking place between 18-21 January in Florida.