Tiger-tamer Yang excited at second chapter of his golf career  02:51, 12/04/2022

More importantly, Y.E. Yang knows his name will forever be etched in the game’s folklore as the first Asian male to hoist a major trophy, courtesy of a memorable head-to-head triumph over Tiger Woods at the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine.

Yang, who celebrated his 50th birthday on January 15, turned a new chapter in his golf book when he made his debut on PGA TOUR Champions at the Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida last week, finishing a creditable tied 12th. 

A late bloomer in the game – Yang first picked up a club when he was 19 – the Korean says he is still very much in love with golf which has allowed him to traverse the world’s airways to compete on the finest fairways. He believes every day offers a new beginning as he prepares for life on the over-50 circuit, which boasts of legends such as Bernhard Langer, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Darren Clarke and Fred Couples.

Like many of Asia’s first generation of golf stars, Yang’s journey and rise is inspiring. He grew up in a family comprising of seven other siblings on Jeju island and dreamt of becoming a bodybuilder and owning a gym. After suffering from an injury, he was introduced to golf at age 19 and started hitting balls by mimicking others. He also worked as a ball-picker at a local range and after his national service, Yang’s attention turned fully to golf as he first became a teaching professional before taking the plunge in the play-for-pay ranks.

With a dogged spirit, the muscular Korean enjoyed success on the domestic Korean tour and later in Japan, and it was at the 2006 HSBC Champions in China that his fame grew when he defeated a top-class field that included Woods. Yang subsequently earned his PGA TOUR card through Qualifying School in in 2007 and it took him just two years to stamp his mark at the highest level, first by winning The Honda Classic before going on to deliver one of sport’s greatest upsets when he stunned Woods at the PGA to rewrite golf history.

“I was not a famous player and if I had defeated a player similar as I was, it would not have been a topic for discussion,” said Yang of his come-from-behind win over Woods, who entered the PGA Championship on the back of five wins that year and had never lost an outright 54-hole lead in 36 previous occasions.

“It was a player with 70 wins versus a player with one win. At first, I didn’t realise I had hope to win a major but that dream came true and I am grateful. Wherever I go now, I have the pride that I am a major champion.”