Asia celebrated yesterday after unheralded Yang Yong-eun stunned Tiger Woods to become the region’s first major-winner, capping a years-long boom in the fast-growing market.
Golf fans from politicians to office workers watched on live TV as South Korea’s Yang birdied the last with a sizzling approach over a tree to seal the PGA Championship by three shots over the world No. 1.
“That’s probably the shot of the year,” Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han said. “Especially against Tiger — that’s as high a pressure shot as you can have.”
PHOTO: AFP
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak phoned Yang to praise him for the win, which dominated yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
“You raised the morale of our people by becoming the first Asian to secure a major title,” Lee told Yang.
South Korean TV repeatedly aired footage of Yang’s final putt and unusual celebration, when he power-lifted his golf bag above his head.
Yang breaks an Asian jinx in the majors after three players — Taiwan’s Huan Lu-liang and Chen Tze-chung, and Japan’s Isao Aoki — were runners-up in the 1970s and 1980s.
He is also the first player to overhaul a lead by Woods, a 14-time major champion, in one of golf’s big four tournaments.
“Everyone’s pretty thrilled. It was pretty emotional,” Han said. “Especially beating Tiger, that was something else. It’s not only about being an Asian player — Tiger has never lost being in the lead, this is the first time.”
Yang, 37, cut his teeth on the Asian circuit, winning four times in Japan before his breakthrough victory — also against Woods — at the 2006 HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
Han predicted more big wins for Asian players as the region’s young players gain experience against the world’s best in tournaments jointly sanctioned by the European Tour.
“I see a lot more of this happening,” he said. “A lot of our younger players are showing a lot of game, but they need a lot more exposure and more opportunities. By Yang winning, it just shows it can be done.”
Yang began the final round two strokes off the pace, but pulled even on the front nine and took a one-stroke lead over Woods with an eagle chip-in at the 14th.
Both took bogey at 17 and Woods missed a birdie chip at the 18th as Yang confirmed the historic victory with a six-foot birdie.
“It was a matter of time before an Asian-born player was going to win,” Woods said. “We’ve had a lot of great players over the years, starting with Jumbo [Ozaki] and Isao [Aoki] has come close, but it was just a matter of time.”
Yang said despite the win, he still considered himself a “lower-than-average PGA Tour player.”
“I’ve visualized this a few times, playing against the best player in the history of golf, playing with him in the final round of a major, always sort of dreamed about this,” Yang said. “When the chance came, I thought I could play a good round and Tiger is good, but he could always have a bad day. I guess today was one of those days.”
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