Chinese Taipei’s Kevin Yu flirted with a maiden PGA TOUR victory with a scintillating final round of 9-under 63 before settling a career-equaling best finish of tied third at The American Express on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Yu, a former world amateur No. 1, was near flawless at PGA West Stadium Course with 10 birdies against a closing bogey which ultimately dashed his hopes of a career breakthrough.
Related: Si Woo Kim ready for final push for glory at American Express
The US$8.4 million tournament was sensationally won by 20-year-old Nick Dunlap, who became the first amateur since 1991 to win a PGA TOUR tournament as he ground out a 70 to edge South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout by a single stroke with his 29-under winning total.
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Japanese rookie Ryo Hisatsune, who earned his playing rights on the PGA TOUR through the DP World Tour Top 10 last season, continued his strong start to 2024 by finishing T11 on 23-under, while Korean trio Sungjae Im, K.H. Lee and 2021 American Express winner Si Woo Kim shared 25th place on 19-under.
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After missing four months of action early last year with a knee surgery, the talented Yu displayed his immense potential once more by soaring into contention with an outward 30. He made four more birdies through 16 to jostle for the lead but a costly bogey on 18 after he found the fairway bunker eventually saw him finish two back.
“I was so glad to shoot a nine-under round, it was beyond my expectation,” said a delighted Yu, who shared third place with Xander Schauffele (65) and Justin Thomas (68). “I had great feelings with my swing and my putting worked really well. I hope I can keep the good momentum and become a winner soon.”
A majority of Yu’s 10 birdies, which is a career best haul during a round, were from inside of 10 feet and the longest putt came on the 14th hole when he rolled in a 19-footer to earn a share of the lead for the first time in the final round.
He was disappointed to drop his only bogey after finding the fairway trap on 18 with a three wood. “The club was a bit open, and it found the bunker on the right. That bunker was quite deep, so I could only hit it back out onto the fairway and I then misjudged the distance for my third due to the wind, so it came short and I made a bogey which was a pity,” said Yu, who also finished T3 at the 2022 Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
He is now looking forward to the Farmers Insurance Open which begins on Wednesday at Torrey Pines. The PGA TOUR University graduate said he added a new team member to sharpen his course management skills after missing the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii last week.
“Last week I added one consultant to my team who gave me advice on course strategy. That was helpful and gave me great confidence. I hope I can do well in the coming week,” he said.
