Tiger-tamer YE Yang excited at second chapter of his golf career
- The South Korean makes his debut on the Champions Tour this week at the Chubb Classic
- Golfers name forever associated with being first Asian player to win a major
His PGA Tour career stats read 193 starts, two wins, 12 top-10s, 33 top-25s, a career best 10th on the FedEx Cup and nearly US$9 million in prize earnings. Throw in seven other combined wins on the DP World Tour and Japan Tour and his resume makes for a celebrated golf career.
More importantly, Y.E. Yang knows his name will forever be etched in the game’s folklore as the first Asian 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 last month, will turn a new chapter in his golf book when he makes his debut on the Champions Tour at the Chubb Classic starting in Naples, Florida on Thursday.
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 a sport that has allowed him to travel the world.
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.
“First of all, I love golf. I still like it and will always do in the future. I learned and gained a lot while playing golf,” Yang said. “I wonder what awaits me and I wonder what will happen next. I am excited because I am able to compete again, and I have high expectations.”
Like many of Asia’s first generation of golf stars, Yang’s journey and rise is inspiring. He grew up in a family comprising seven other siblings on Jeju island and dreamed of becoming a bodybuilder and owning a gym.