Yang Yong-eun of Korea hits off the 11th tee during first round play at the Barclays golf tournament at Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City, N.J., Aug. 27, 2009. Reuters-Yonhap

The 2009 PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-eun has captured his first senior tour title.

Yang defeated Bernhard Langer on the first playoff hole to win the Ascension Charity Classic at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis on Sunday (local time) for his first PGA Tour Champions title in his 72nd start.

The PGA Tour Champions is a competition for players over the age of 50. Yang has been playing there since 2022.

Yang is the second Korean to win on the senior circuit, joining Choi Kyoung-ju.

Yang is best known for holding off Tiger Woods to win the 2009 PGA Championship. He remains the only Korean with a men's major title.

Yang and Langer, who boasts 46 senior victories, finished 54 holes tied at 13-under 200 to set up a sudden-death playoff. Yang shot a five-under 66 in the final round, while Langer carded a 64.

And in the playoff, Yang sank his birdie putt from about six feet, after Langer missed his from about 10 feet.

"I've been playing on the PGA Tour Champions for three seasons and this is my happiest day on the tour," Yang said. "I've had fond memories of playing in St. Louis and I think they led to such a great result today. The course setup is similar to the ones in Korea and it suited my game."

Yang said he was nervous about going up against Langer, who has won more than anyone on the senior tour, but it was a good learning experience for him.

"I tried to focus on my own game in the playoff," Yang said. "I've been playing well since the start of the year. And I still have more events to play and I want to finish the season on a good note." (Yonhap)