Bae Sang-moon captured the HP Byron Nelson Championship on the PGA Tour on Sunday in Texas, becoming the third South Korean golfer to win on the most prestigious men's golf circuit.
At TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas, Bae shot a 1-under 69 in the final round for a four-round total of 13-under 267, beating Keegan Bradley of the U.S. by two strokes. The 26-year-old South Korean took home US$1.17 million for his efforts.
"The course was really tough," said Bae, who claimed his first PGA Tour victory. "The winds were very strong. I did very well this week."
Bae is the third golfer from his country to win on the PGA Tour, following Choi Kyoung-ju and Yang Yong-eun. This is Bae's second season on the PGA Tour.
"It's something I've always dreamed of, winning on the PGA Tour," Bae said. "When my iron play came back in the latter part of the round, I had confidence."
Bradley, the 2011 PGA Championship winner, was the leader after three rounds at 13-under, but he managed only a 2-over 72 in the final round.
Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion from South Africa, finished third at 10-under.
Bae earned his playing card through the qualifying tournament, better known as the Q-School. Before coming to the U.S., Bae had won the Korean Tour money titles in 2008 and 2009, and then led the Japan Golf Tour's money list in 2011.
The tournament is named after Byron Nelson, a late golf legend from Texas who earned 52 PGA Tour victories, including five majors.
He owns the record of most PGA Tour wins in a season with 18 and the most consecutive victories with 11.
With the Byron Nelson win, Bae is now fully exempt on the PGA Tour until 2015 and has earned spots for some prestigious events until 2014, including this year's PGA Championship and next year's Masters.
Bae began the final round trailing Bradley by one stroke. The South Korean claimed a one-shot lead on the par-4 third hole, where he scored his first birdie of the day, and Bradley, playing in the same group, committed a bogey.
Bae poured in three consecutive birdies starting on the fifth hole and led Bradley by four strokes through eight holes.
On the par-4 ninth, though, Bae missed the fairway to the left and put his second shot in the water. He two-putted for a double bogey as his lead was slashed in half, and after a bogey on the par-4 10th, Bae's lead shrunk to one shot.
Bradley, however, couldn't take advantage of Bae's hiccups. On the par-4 11th, he had a three-putt bogey. A birdie on the par-4 15th, combined with Bae's bogey on the same hole, tied the two golfers at 12-under, before Bae went up by one again with a birdie on the 16th.
Bradley went down by two strokes again with a bogey on the par-3 17th, after he missed the green off the tee. Bae saved par with two putts from 23 feet.
"On that shot on 17, I knew it was short, and the wind pushed it over to the right," Bae said. "And I was happy and relieved that it turned out OK."
Peggy Nelson, the widow of Byron, offered the first-time winner a congratulatory hug afterward. Bae said it took a while for his victory to sink in.
"It was surreal to have Mrs. Nelson there and with all the history," he said. "I was in awe, actually, so almost I didn't know how to react." (Yonhap News)
