The third time truly proved to be the charm for Kevin Yu at the 2024 Sanderson Farms Championship, where the 24-year-old from Chinese Taipei captured his first PGA Tour title in a dramatic playoff. Facing off against Beau Hossler, Yu nailed a decisive birdie on the par-4 18th hole, clinching victory with a 23-under score. But this wasn’t just any win—it was a deeply personal one, as Yu’s parents had flown from Taiwan to be by his side, witnessing their son’s triumph on the biggest stage in golf.
Yu’s journey to this moment was anything but easy. Starting his career with humble beginnings, he shared how his family made countless sacrifices to support his dreams, from covering college expenses at Arizona State University to his father opening a driving range just for him. “They’ve been working really hard… trying to put me through college and my professional career,” Yu reflected emotionally at the post-round press conference. “Just to have them out here, it’s really special.” The special presence of his parents at the Country Club of Jackson made his long-sought victory even sweeter.
For Yu, who joined the PGA Tour in 2023, this win is not only a breakthrough but also a realization of years of dedication, starting from the age of seven when he began competing, motivated by the desire to best his first coach—his father, Tommy Yu, a professional golfer in Taiwan. “I wanted to beat my dad so bad out there,” Yu recalled, laughing. From those early days, his family has been his driving force, especially through the demanding years of professional golf that kept him away from them for extended periods. In fact, after earning his PGA Tour card, the first thing he did was FaceTime his parents, sharing the joyous news at 12:30 am.
His father’s belief in him was unwavering. Just last Tuesday, as they arrived at the golf course and saw the parking area reserved for champions, his father smiled and said, “We can park here after this year.” That prophetic moment turned out to be true, as Yu delivered on the confidence his parents had placed in him, becoming only the third Taiwanese player to win on the PGA Tour, joining legends T.C. Chen and C.T. Pan.
As Yu stood holding the trophy, his journey was a testament not only to his talent and perseverance but to the boundless support of his family, who were there every step of the way, both in spirit and by his side. His victory, rooted in familial love and sacrifice, stands as one of the most inspiring moments of the 2024 PGA Tour season.
