16 Pars and One Birdie: How Yuto Katsuragawa Won

On Sunday, October 25, in Cheonan, South Korea, Yuto Katsuragawa won the DP World Tour's Genesis Championship with a final round of 16 pars, one birdie and one bogey. No fireworks. He was nervous and said so. The beginner lesson: steady golf wins more than you think, and "your par" can be whatever number keeps you calm.

Tour week: a quiet Sunday that changed a season

Katsuragawa, 28, from Japan, started the week 106th in the season standings. Only the top 100 kept full playing rights for next year, so his job was on the line.

On Saturday he tied the course record at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club with a 63 and took a two-shot lead. On Sunday he did something harder: he stayed patient. An early tee shot went astray on the 3rd, and he saved par. He holed a 27-footer for birdie on the 4th. Then he made par after par after par.

The chasers had tough holes too: his playing partner Casey Jarvis on the 9th, Antoine Rozner in the water on the 13th. That's Sunday golf, for everyone.

On the 18th, Katsuragawa got out of position and reached the green with three putts to win. He two-putted for bogey, shot even-par 71, and won by two at 13 under. The win lifted him to 28th in the standings.

"Yes I was nervous," he said, "not just for the victory but also about the seed for the DP World Tour so it was double nervous for me but I think I got through." He called it "the greatest moment of my life."

Your first-nine lesson: play for your own par

A pro's par is the number on the card. On your first nine, you get to choose a friendlier one.

Pick your par before you tee off. For many beginners, a bogey or double bogey on each hole is a great day. Our what is par guide explains how the numbers work.
Aim for the middle of the green. With your 52° or 56°, the big part of the green is the smart target. Two putts, walk on.
When you have putts to spare, roll the first one close. Katsuragawa didn't need to hole his long putt on 18. Neither do you. Our putting basics guide shows the simple lag putt.
Nerves are allowed. A champion said he was "double nervous" and still got through. Breathe, then play the next shot. It's the only one that matters.

The First 9 Method (a putter, a 52° and a 56° plus an alignment stick) is built for this kind of steady golf on a par-3 nine.

16 Pars and One Birdie: How Yuto Katsuragawa Won

Tour week: a quiet Sunday that changed a season

Your first-nine lesson: play for your own par

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