Kang rallies again for first PGA Tour win

SUNG Kang was a teenager when his father started sending him from South Korea to North Texas in the winters and summers to work on his golf game.

The 31-year-old Kang, who now lives in the area while playing on the PGA Tour, got to call his father Sunday, May 12, to tell him, “I did it,” after he bagged his first victory in his 159th career start.

Kang closed Byron Nelson with a 4-under 67 to finish at 23 under and beat Matt Every and Scott Piercy by two strokes.

With three consecutive birdies late, including a 23-footer on the 15th hole, Kang finally regained the lead for good on Sunday at Trinity Forest—about 30 minutes from his home in Coppell, where he has lived since his PGA Tour debut in 2011.

“It just feels amazing. I was thinking about winning on the PGA Tour when I was real young and watching Tiger dominating,” Kang said. “My dad gave me a lot of support when I was young.”

Kang pumped his fist when the birdie dropped in at No. 15, making for a two-stroke swing. Every, who started that 431-yard par-4 tied for the lead, was in the middle of the fairway before what he called “just a terrible shot” on his approach that set up a three-putt for bogey.

“I watched him for 72 holes. He didn’t miss. Hard to beat,” Every said.

Every finished with a 66. Piercy, also in the final threesome, ended a bogey-free tournament with a 64.

Twice over the last two days, Every overcame deficits of at least four strokes and went ahead of Kang. They played together all four rounds.

“First two rounds, we’re not playing to win. We’re just making birdies back and forth, and back and forth. Just getting great momentum,” said Kang, who matched the course record with a 61 in the second round Friday. “Then Saturday and Sunday, it’s going... He played great on the front nine. I played great on the back nine.” /