Bae wins PGA season opener

South Korean Bae Sang-moon survives mid-round slump to earn a two-shot victory at the Frys.com Open in California.

This was Bae's first top-10 finish since last May [AP]

South Korean Bae Sang-moon built a big lead but had to survive a mid-round slump to earn a two-shot victory at the $6 million Frys.com Open in Napa, California.

Bae carded a final round of 73 to finish on 15-under-par 273 at Silverado Country Club in the opening event of the 2014 15 season on the PGA Tour.

Australian Steven Bowditch (67), boosted by an eagle at the par-five 16th, finished second on 13-under.

Bae posted four bogeys in a seven-hole stretch mid-round but the 28-year-old held on to take the win and pocket $1.08m for his second victory on the PGA Tour.

He also has 12 international wins.

It was Bae’s first top-10 finish since he won the Byron Nelson Championship in May of last year, but he expressed confidence that this latest success would be the first of many.

“After the first win, I didn’t play well last year,” he added. “I was very frustrated, very anxious and nervous, but now I’ve got the second one, I think third and fourth will come easy since I have the confidence.”

Bae said he hoped to earn a spot on the International team for the Presidents Cup to be played in his homeland next year and also wanted to represent South Korea when golf returns to the Olympic programme in 2016.

Source: Reuters