Yu played himself into a playoff at the Sanderson Farms Championship and took home the rooster trophy for his first PGA Tour win.
Kevin Yu shot a final round 5-under 67 to get to 23-under and into a playoff with Beau Hossler at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
It only took one extra hole for him to claim his first PGA Tour victory as he made a birdie to secure it.
He made six birdies on the day with one lone bogey, but the birdie on the 18th may have been the biggest one for him as it set up the playoff.
Yu remained cool throughout Sunday's round. He noted that his break in September helped him regroup mentally.
“I was just tired, frustrated, and just felt like momentum wouldn't go anywhere in the last maybe six months,” Yu said.
“I set a goal today if I can shoot 5-, 6-under, I have a chance, and today I focused on that. Try to do the best I can out there and try to do every shot the best I could have done out there. I did a pretty good job out there today.”
Kevin Yu breaks through with his first title on the PGA TOUR! @KevinGolfYu | @Sanderson_Champ pic.twitter.com/E5fqUmgYM6
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) October 6, 2024
He ranked No. 8 in the field in strokes gained putting, as he picked up 1.991 shots on the field.
His putting throughout the entire week was his biggest strength. Throughout the four rounds, he picked up 8.679 strokes gained putting, which was No. 2 on the week.
Not to mention, Yu tied for first in total strokes gained with 12.519.
In his 56th PGA Tour start, he can finally call himself a winner, and he got to do it in front of his parents. Not to mention, he got one of the coolest trophies awarded on the PGA Tour — a rooster.
“It’s literally a dream come true. I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was five,” Yu said. “I’m thankful for my parents right there right now. My dad taught me how to play golf since I was five. They have been working hard and sacrificing a lot. Without them, I wouldn’t have done this today.”
He completely changed his 2025 schedule with this performance.
With this victory, Yu moves up to No. 60 in the FedEx Cup Fall rankings. If he remains in that spot, he will play in the Sentry, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational Signature Events.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.
