Yang Makes It Interesting
Rory Sabbatini had the Honda Classic all but wrapped up halfway through his round today, with a 4-shot lead and the conditions seemingly difficult enough to prevent anyone from making a late run. However, Y. E. Yang made it interesting late with a few closing birdies, including a 9-footer on 18. Sabbatini was forced to make par on 18 to secure the win.
Two strokes down going into the par-5 18th, Yang was forced to go for the green in 2, maybe a little bit out of his range. He really had no choice at that point if he was trying to win the tournament, although his decision brought to mind Phil Mickelson's interesting choice to lay up on 18 at Torrey Pines, needing eagle to force a playoff.
Yang's shot unsurprisingly found the greenside bunker, although he closed strong with a nice up and down.
"I tried to make eagle on that hole," Yang said. "I did go for broke. Unfortunately it didn't work out."
Coming off his signature win in the 2009 PGA Championship, Yang struggled at the end of last year. Yang did not notch a top-25 on Tour after the Memorial in early June, and it looked like the PGA may have been an abberation. However, his second-place showing today gives him three top-10s already this year.
"It was a very good week and it's been a very good early part of the season," Yang said. "So I think if I can capitalize on this, I'll have a better year than last year."
And maybe an appearance on a leaderboard in a major.
