ST. LOUIS — Y.E. Yang forced a playoff with a six-foot par putt for a 5-under-par 66, then made a 10-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole against Bernhard Langer to win the Ascension Charity Classic on Sunday, securing his first PGA Tour Champions victory.
Langer, the 67-year-old German star with a record 46 career victories on the senior tour, was trying to win for the 18th consecutive season on the 50-and-older circuit and nearly did. He hit a shot out of the rough to 15 feet on the 18th hole on the West Course at Norwood Hills Country Cub and made a birdie for a 64.
Yang’s par putt sent them to a playoff at 13-under 200 after 54 holes of regulation play.
After going back to the 18th, Langer pulled his tee shot into the bunker and followed with an approach to about 15 feet. His birdie attempt stayed on the high side of the hole, though, setting up Yang to deliver his winning putt.
The 52-year-old from South Korea is best known for being the only player to overcome a 54-hole deficit against Tiger Woods in a major when he won the 2009 PGA Championship.