.E. Yang fired a bogey-free 64 at Pebble Beach to build a three-shot lead after the opening round of the PURE Insurance Championship.
Y.E. Yang couldn't have asked for a much better start at Pebble Beach.
The 54-year-old South Korean delivered a bogey-free, 8-under 64 Friday at Pebble Beach Golf Links, giving him a three-shot lead after the first round of the 2026 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee.
Yang piled up eight birdies and finished just one shot shy of the tournament's 18-hole scoring record of 63.
Even chilly Monterey Peninsula conditions couldn't slow him down.
“Today is a little cold and windy ... I think today a lot of birdies, it’s good,” Yang said after the round.
Starting on Pebble Beach's back nine, Yang quickly separated himself from the field. He rolled off four consecutive birdies at Nos. 12 through 15 before adding four more on his second nine at Nos. 2, 5, 6 and 8.
It continued a strong stretch for Yang, who entered the week coming off a runner-up finish at the Rogers Charity Classic. He closed that tournament with a bogey-free 63 before losing to Steven Alker on the first playoff hole.
Yang also has good memories at the PURE Insurance Championship after tying for fifth in 2025. He opened that tournament with a 68, meaning Friday's 64 represented a four-shot improvement from his first round a year ago.
Ryan Armour emerged as Yang's closest pursuer with a 5-under 67 at Pebble Beach. Armour overcame an opening bogey and made an eagle at the par-5 11th while continuing a strong run that included top-five finishes in each of his previous two starts.
Ernie Els and Tim O'Neal were tied for third at 4 under, while Henrik Stenson, Steven Alker and Zach Johnson were among the players sitting at 3 under.
Yang entered the tournament ranked No. 17 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings and is searching for his second PGA Tour Champions victory. His first came at the 2024 Ascension Charity Classic, where he defeated Bernhard Langer in a playoff.
The PURE Insurance Championship uses both Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill for the opening two rounds before Sunday's finale returns to Pebble Beach.
That means Yang will have a different test Saturday at Spyglass Hill — but after a nearly flawless opening round, everyone else will be trying to catch him.
