Amy Yang captured the biggest prize in women’s golf and the LPGA Tour season finale Sunday at the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida.
Yang, who won $2 million (U.S.) for her win, shot a tournament-record 27 under. She won by three over Alison Lee and Nasa Hataoka.
“I thought my career would be over very soon and I just didn’t see myself winning again,” Yang said. “But, you know, I tried to stay patient and positive about my future and I’m just so happy.”
Yang shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday to win for the fifth time on the LPGA Tour – but for the first time since 2019. Yang has never won on U.S. soil, either, having capturing the Honda LPGA Thailand three times (in 2015, 2017, and 2019) and the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship in 2013.
Yang got off to a tough start with a bogey on the par-4 3rd hole and was 1 over through six. But she turned things around quickly and impressively after that, making three birdies in four holes as she made the turn.
Amy Yang is putting up a fight at @CMEGroupLPGA 👊
Watch now on NBC! pic.twitter.com/jmLPeXBya3
— LPGA (@LPGA) November 19, 2023
The highlight came when she dunked a wedge for an eagle two on the par-4 13th. She added back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 to end the week in style.
Jin Young Ko had the previous scoring record, having fired a 23-under 265 when she won in 2021.
Lilia Vu shot a 7-under 65 to finish at 21 under and in fourth. In the process, she won Player of the Year honours after a four-win season that included two major-championship triumphs.
Vu said she remembered telling her caddie that on the last hole of the final round 12 months ago she broke down in tears.
“I was just really hard on myself,” Vu said. “Came in with no expectations and tried to win every tournament that I played in. Just kept my goals really small and I think that helped me achieve Player of the Year.”
Vu said her first “really small” goal was to win a tournament. She did that in her first start of the season.
Atthaya Thitikul finished fifth, and after a Sunday 66, she captured the Vare Trophy for low scoring average for the 2023 season.
Golf Town Athlete Brooke Henderson finished at 15 under and was 12th. She shot a 1-under 72 in the final round. Brooke missed a few putts early and just couldn’t get any momentum on her side for the final round.
Still, this marked Brooke’s eighth top-15 finish of the season.
“I’ve definitely learned a lot this year which is good. The later part of the season I feel like my game has really come together so I’m excited (to have) a little time off to figure out things a bit more and I think I’m on the right trend. Hopefully start out the year really strong,” Brooke said.
Brooke and Corey Conners will tee it up together at the PGA Tour-LPGA Tour co-sanctioned event, the Grant Thornton Invitational, in two weeks. Brooke said she can’t wait to end the year on a high note and play in front of all the Canadian fans that are set to be down in Florida in December to cheer ‘Team Canada’ on!