Amy Yang of Korea celebrates with the CME Globe trophy after winning the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club, Nov. 19, in Naples, Florida. AFP-Yonhap
Korean golfer Amy Yang has captured the final tournament of the 2023 LPGA Tour season in Florida, striking a $2 million jackpot in the process.
Yang won the CME Group Tour Championship by three shots over Alison Lee of the United States and Nasa Hataoka of Japan at Tibron Golf Club in Naples, Florida, on Sunday (local time). Yang shot a six-under 66, capped off by the closing birdie on the 18th, to finish at 27-under 261. She holed out for a pivotal eagle on the par-four 13th to erase an early deficit.
It was Yang's fifth career LPGA win but her first since 2019. Yang's four previous victories had all come in Asia — one in South Korea and three in Thailand.
Yang, whose Korean given name is Hee-young, became the fourth Korean player to reach the winner's circle in the LPGA this season, joining Ko Jin-young, Ryu Hae-ran and Kim Hyo-joo.
Korea has produced four champions over the past five editions of this tournament, with Kim Sei-young winning it in 2019 and Ko going back to back in 2020 and 2021 before Yang's triumph.
Amy Yang, left, is doused with champagne by friends after winning on the 18th green during the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club, Nov. 19, in Naples, Florida. AFP-Yonhap
Yang, 34, came into this week having earned a little over $1.16 million for this season. The $2 million prize money at the Tour Championship matched the largest in women's golf.
Yang started the final round tied for the lead with Hataoka at 21-under, and the Japanese player led Yang by one at the turn.
Hataoka maintained her one-stroke lead over Yang through 12 holes at 24-under, but the pendulum swung the other way in a hurry on the 13th hole.
Yang holed out for an eagle on that par-four hole to seize a one-shot lead at 25-under, with Hataoka missing her birdie attempt on the same green.
Hataoka drew level with a birdie on the par-five 14th but then a bogey on the 16th, a par-three hole, dropped her back to 24-under, one behind Yang.
Yang then moved out in front by two strokes with a birdie on the par-five 17th, where Hataoka had her birdie putt lip out and settled for par. Lee moved into a tie with Hataoka after making a birdie at the 17th.
Yang then put the icing on the cake by making her fifth birdie of the day on the very last hole of the 2023 season. (Yonhap)
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