Yang stuns world with first Korean PGA Championship victory

Korean golfer Yang Yong-eun, 37, made history by becoming the first Asian player to win the 91st PGA Championship golf tournament at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota on Aug. 16 (USA time).

Yang, having beaten the world's number one golf player Tiger Woods, savored his Wanamaker Trophy. The PGA Championship was the last major tournament of the year.

Yang was initially trailing behind Woods by two shots. He later added one eagle, two birdies and two bogeys, achieving an 8-under 280 strokes, beating Woods, who later lost by three shots, scoring 5-under 283. In third place were England's Lee Westwood and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, both with three under par. 

Up till now the best performance by a Korean golfer at a major tournament was made by Choi Kyung-ju, who came in third place at The Masters Tournament in 2004. This time he  reached 24th place with 3-over 291 strokes.

Other notable Asian players who made their names at world-class tournaments include Taiwan's Lu Liang-Huan, who took second place at the British Open in 1971; Japan's Isao Aoki, who won second place at the U.S. Open in 1980; and Taiwan's Tze-Chung Chen, who won second place together with Canada's Dave Barr and Zimbabwe's Denis Watson at the U.S Open in 1985.

AP News pointed out the unprecedented victory may help boost Asian golf to a new level, especially with golf recently recommended to become an Olympic event in 2016 and the World Golf Championship to take place in China in November this year. 

Yang was born a farmer's son on Jeju-do (Jeju Island) and started out as a ball boy. He first rose to fame after winning the PGA Honda Classic last March. His unwavering play throughout the match against Woods left a strong impression on many golf fans. Woods had won the major tournament 14 times and this is the first time he has lost after leading in strokes on the third round.

President Lee Myung-bak made a phone call to Yang, complimenting him for being the fist Asian to win the major golf event and raising country's morale. “The victory is even more precious because of the many hardships he has overcome,” the president said. 

Major U.S. media outlets too highlighted the unexpected victory of the Korean player. The New York Times reported the latest turnaround in the match as “one of the biggest upsets in sports history”. The Wall Street Journal agreed that nobody even imagined Yang, with a world ranking of 110, could beat Woods. 

“I tried hard to concentrate only on the game. I plan to hold a big party with my friends,” he added, saying he was hardly able to contain his happiness. Woods complimented him, saying that he succeeded thanks to a wonderful putt when he needed it most.

Other major Korean players included Anthony Kim in 51st place (7 over par, 295 strokes) and Charlie Wi in 56th place.
     
By Kim Hee-sung