Y.E. Yang shot a final-round score of 2-under 68 on Sunday to finish at 9-under 271 and win the 2009 Honda Classic by one stroke over John Rollins at PGA National Resort and Spa's Champion Course.
It was the first PGA Tour victory for Yang, who won in his 47th career start. Prior to this past weekend's event the 37-year-old South Korean's best finish was a ninth-place tie in the 2008 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Yang's victory was worth 500 points and moves him to No. 9 in the FedExCup standings with 579 points. By moving inside the top 10 on the FedExCup points list, he earned a spot in next week's World Golf Championships-CA Championship as well as an invitation to the Masters.
Yang also became just the second South Korean-born player to win a PGA Tour event, joining seven-time victor K.J. Choi. Yang is now exempt on Tour through the end of the 2011 season and has secured a position into not only the Masters Tournament and the CA-Championship, but also The Players Championship and the winners-only 2010 Mercedes-Benz Championship.
The runner-up finish was the seventh of Rollins' career He was the only player in the field to shoot in the 60s in all four rounds and was the first to do so at the Honda Classic since 2003.
Y.E. Yang at the Honda Classic
Y.E. Yang points to the gallery after a birdie on hole 8 to go 10 under par during final-round play in the 2009 Honda Classic at PGA National.
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Charlie Wi
Charlie Wi putts on hole 16 during final round play at the 2009 Honda Classic. Wi finished tied for ninth at 3-under 277.
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Fredrik Jacobson
Fredrik Jacobson looks over a putt during final-round play at the 2009 Honda Classic. Jacobson tied for fifth at 4-under 276.
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Jeff Klauk
Jeff Klauk hits from the fairway during final-round play at the 2009 Honda Classic. He ended fourth after shooting 5-under 275.
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Jeff Overton
Jeff Overton reacts after sinking an 11-foot putt for birdie on the third hole during final-round play at the 2009 Honda Classic. Overton tied for ninth at 3-under 277.
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Robert Allenby
Robert Allenby watches his shot during final-round play at the 2009 Honda Classic. Allenby shot 70 Sunday to tie for fifth at 4-under 276.
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John Rollins
John Rollins blasts from the sand trap on the sixth hole during final-round play at the 2009 Honda Classic.
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John Rollins at the '09 Honda Classic
John Rollins lines up his putt during Sunday's final round of the Honda Classic.
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Sergio Garcia
Sergio Garcia putts during Sunday's final round of the 2009 Honda Classic. Despite a final round of 2-under 68, Garcia finished tied for 13th.
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Will MacKenzie
Will MacKenzie during final round play at the 2009 Honda Classic. He tie for fifth at 2-under 276.
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Y.E. Yang wins the Honda Classic
Y.E. Yang poses with the winner's trophy at the 2009 Honda Classic played at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
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Ben Crane
Ben Crane putts during final-round play at the 2009 Honda Classic. He finished third at 6-under-par 274.
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Beyond the Bear Trap: The Champion at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens is a great Florida golf course
