Sung Kang claims first win at AT&T Byron Nelson

Sung Kang claimed his first PGA Tour title at the AT&T Byron Nelson on Sunday by two shots

Eight years and 159 starts after Kang made his debut on the PGA Tour in 2011, the 31-year-old joined the winner’s circle with a two-shot victory at the weather delayed AT&T Byron Nelson at Trinity Forest Golf Club. 

Kang, who lives in Texas, fired a final round 67 that included seven birdies and three dropped shots on his way to his maiden Tour title, beating out Scott Piercy and overnight leader Matt Every. 

“Just dream come true,” Kang said of his win. “You know, it just feels amazing. I mean I was thinking about winning event on PGA TOUR when I was real young and watching Tiger was dominating and then I got on to your since ’11, I’ve — it feels amazing.”

Kang matched the course record of 61 in cold conditions on Friday to hold the outright lead by four, and after a six hour weather delay halted Saturday’s play and continued in to Sunday, his lead remained at three.

Following a power nap (which was caught on camera) Kang got off to a quick start with an opening birdie to match Every, but as he dropped a shot on the next, his playing partner went on a run with five birdies and one bogey in his first six holes to gain a one-shot advantage. 

The momentum switched once more with back-to-back gains from Kang on the eighth and ninth holes as he moved back in to the lead, but after the pair swapped birdies on the 10th it was once again the South Korean player who dropped back after finding the bunker with his second shot on the par-three 12th and retreating to a share of the lead on 20-under-par. 

They traded birdies again at 14, but this time it was Kang who took advantage: He holed a 22-foot putt for birdie on the next to get to -22 and it would result in a two-shot swing as Every failed to save par, while Scott Piercy was up ahead putting together a seven-under 64 to post the clubhouse target of 21-under. 

From there, Kang put down the hammer with a third gain in a row, hitting his approach shot to 7 feet on the par-four 16th and converting to earn a three shot lead heading down 18. 

He would find the fairway with his tee shot but miss the green on his approach up the last, and was left to settle for a final hole bogey – but it was still enough to win by two shots over his nearest competitors.

“I think it was really about the mental at the end,” Kang said of what helped him capture his maiden title. “We knew it was going to be long day for everyone. So, it was all about who is not going to lose the focus at the end.

“I talked to my caddy when we were walking to the ball, just chill and have fun and talk a lot about funny things and when we get to the ball try to really focus. Then we’re going to save some energy. I think that helped out a lot at the end and then I mean even Matt and Scott today, those guys are just firing off in front of myself. It was fun game.”

Three time major champion Brooks Koepka posted a bogey-free 65 to finish in solo fourth on 20-under ahead of his PGA Championship defence next week, three shots clear of the five players on 17-under. 

And it was a round that gave him a lot of confidence heading in to the week.

“I like my chances next week,” said Koepka. “I feel like striking it really well, putting it really well, especially the putts coming down the stretch. Nice to see some kind of — something on the line. It was important going into next week.

“I’m playing good. Tomorrow is probably a day off, looks like. It will be just catch up on some rest and hopefully play like I did this week.”