by ST. LOUIS — YE Yang forced a playoff with a 6-foot par putt for a 5-under 66 and rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole against Bernhard Langer to win the Ascension Charity Classic on Sunday and claim his first PGA Tour title.
Langer, 67, who holds a record 46 senior titles, was trying to win an 18th straight season on the 50-and-over tour and nearly did it. He hit a shot out of the rough to 15 feet on the 18th hole at Norwood Hills and made birdie for a 64.
Yang’s par putt sent them into a playoff at 13-under-200.
Back on the 18th hole, Langer hit his tee shot into the bunker and followed up with a hybrid to about 15 feet. But his birdie attempt stayed on the high side of the hole, allowing Yang to make his winning putt.
Yang, 52, is best known for becoming the only player to overcome a 54-hole deficit to Tiger Woods in a major when he won the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine.
“The PGA Tour was a long time ago,” said Yang, who is in his third year on the PGA Tour Champions. “Today is very special.”
Stewart Cink, who won his second straight PGA Tour Champions victory after winning the last tournament at the Ally Challenge, missed the playoff. Cink two-putted on the par-5 15th hole and two-putted for birdie and the lead.
Cink still had a one-shot lead over Yang and Langer heading into the 17th hole. But he hit his shot well to the right and couldn’t hit the green. His approach shot on the slope stopped about 12 feet from the green and Cink’s par putt went around the cup.
Yang hit a wedge to 4 feet for birdie, and the two-shot swing gave Yang the lead through to the 18th. Cink hit into a greenside bunker and couldn’t make birdie, finishing with a 67.
