PGA TOUR
Kevin Yu Scores Maiden PGA TOUR Win at the Sanderson Farms Championship
Kevin Yu secured his first PGA TOUR victory in dramatic fashion at the Sanderson Farms Championship staged at The Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi. The 26-year-old from Taiwan poured in a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole during regulation play to shoot a 5-under 67. He then following it up with a 6-foot birdie in a playoff to defeat Beau Hossler. Yu’s win not only marks his breakthrough on the TOUR but also earns him a spot in the Masters and PGA Championship. Yu becomes just the third player from his nation (after T.C. Chen and C.T. Pan) to win on the PGA Tour
For most of the final round, the spotlight was on Beau Hossler and Keith Mitchell, but Yu surged into contention with a crucial birdie that tied him for the lead. Hossler found trouble off the tee on the 18th, forcing him to pitch out from behind a tree. He managed to save par with a 4-foot putt after hitting his third shot close, while Mitchell's bid to win outright ended with a heartbreaking 3-putt bogey after grazing the edge of the cup with a 35-foot birdie attempt.
Mitchell, who had held a two-shot lead with five holes to play, tied for third alongside Lucas Glover. Glover delivered an impressive finish, playing his final six holes in 5-under par, which included a chip-in eagle on the 15th for a closing 66.
In the playoff, Hossler’s struggles off the tee continued as he found himself left of the fairway again. Yu, playing first, hit his approach to within 6 feet of the hole. Hossler was forced to punch under the trees, landing in a front bunker. Though he made par after blasting out to 2 feet, Yu confidently drained his birdie putt for the win.
“I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was 5,” Yu said. “This is the dream for all golfers, to win on the PGA TOUR. I did it today, and I’m so thankful for my parents. Without them, I couldn’t have done this.”
Yu and Hossler finished the tournament tied at 23-under 265. For Hossler, it was his 200th start on the PGA TOUR without a win, making this near miss especially painful. Despite faltering early on the back nine, he stayed in the hunt with a 20-foot birdie on the 17th but couldn’t find the magic on the 18th or in the playoff.
Mitchell, seeking his first win in five years, left with regrets after failing to capitalise on birdie opportunities on the par-5 14th and reachable par-4 15th. He had a chance to win with a birdie on the final hole of regulation but instead walked away with a three-putt bogey.
Final Scores
1. Kevin Yu -23
2. Beau Hossler -23
T3. Lucas Glover -22
T3. Keith Mitchell -22
T5. Alex Smalley -21
T5. Bud Cauley -21
Australians
MC. Aaron Baddeley
