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Yong-eun Yang wins The Honda Classic

Monday, 9 March 2009
Fergus Bisset
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Y.E Yang

South Korea’s Yong-eun Yang fired a final round 68 to win The Honda Classic at the PGA National Resort by a single shot from John Rollins.

Ranked 460th in the world before the tournament, Yang secured a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, a start in next week's WGC – CA Championship at Doral and an invite to the Masters.

“This is the biggest win of my career.” Said Yang who also tasted victory in the 2006 HSBC Champions tournament. “I just felt all the fans were supporting me. I just wanted to thank them."

At one point during the final round Yang had extended his lead to four strokes, but a fast finishing John Rollins got to within just one shot after a birdie on the 18th. Yang found the final green in regulation but had to get down in two from 50 feet to secure the victory. He calmly rolled his birdie effort to the side of the cup and tapped in for the win.

"From 50 feet, it's not easy to do that to win," Rollins said. "My hat's off to him."

Rory McIlroy playing in his first regular PGA Tour event fired a closing 69 to finish in a tie for 13th. It could have been a good deal better for the 19-year-old had he not finished his round with consecutive bogeys at the 17th and 18th.

“I’m pretty disappointed with the way I finished.” He said.

Yang didn't play his first round of golf until he was McIlroy's age. The son of a vegetable farmer, he spent 18 months in the South Korean army before taking a job at a driving range when he was 19. Now he is a PGA Tour winner.

Defending champion Ernie Els closed with a 66 to finish in a tie for 22nd.

The Honda Classic
PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Mar 5-8, purse $5,600,000, par 70

1    Y.E Yang (Kor)        68    65    70    68    271    $1,008,000
2    John Rollins (USA)    69    68    68    67    272    $604,800
3    Ben Crane (USA)        70    65    71    68    274    $380,800
4    Jeff Klauk (USA)        69    68    67    71    275    $268,800
T5    Robert Allenby (Aus)    66    68    72    70    276    $196,700
T5    Fredrik Jacobson (Swe)    72    67    67    70    276    $196,700
T5    Will MacKenzie (USA)    67    67    72    70    276    $196,700
T5    Scott Piercy (USA)    72    66    73    65    276    $196,700
T9    Jason Dufner (USA)    72    66    68    71    277    $145,600
T9    Jeff Overton (USA)    67    67    70    73    277    $145,600
T9    D.A Points (USA)        69    69    74    65    277    $145,600
T9    Charlie Wi (Kor)        67    73    65    72    277    $145,600

Note: Players in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only