mrbojumbles

Y.E.S we can

Post by: Reece Lightning

// August 16th, 2009 // News

Today, the 16th of August 2009, Y. E Yang of South Korea held off the greatest player to ever play the game to become the first ever Asian born player to etch his name on the immortal roll call of golf’s major champions.

At 27 pounds, the Wanamaker trophy is the heaviest piece of silverware in all of sports. It may be considered the ugly duckling of the major four but 2009′s last shot at glory could be the beginning of glorious things for the mighty Asian continent.

Many representing the continent have come oh so close over the years but have been unable to seal the deal. It was only a matter of time with the amount of Asian talent currently floating around the world tours, but who would have picked unheralded 37 year old Yong-Eun Yang to be the first?  The likes of KJ, Imada or even Ryo in a few years would have been the obvious picks but holy-moly, no one would have picked this.

Actually that’s a bit of a porky. I got up to watch this mornings final round’s coverage slightly delayed on my-sky. The wireless was off and there was no way I was answering the phone or checking texts to spoil the action that was about to unfold. It was on the 9th hole where I made my first mental error. I turned on my computer to email my boss to swap my shift so could watch the  final round uncompromised. Of course I wasn’t daft enough to take a peek at the any news sites or pgatour.com, but my home page took me to ruddy facebook. This was when I got the shock of my life. A friend of mine had posted on his wall that he had put a fiver on Yang at the US Open and was gutted he hadn’t done it again this week for the PGA Championship, because, wait for it… Y.E. Yang was one in front of Tiger with two to play! Ripping my nightie in the process. (see below)

So it may not have been a complete surprise to some, but as I went through the motions watching the final pairing of Yang and Tiger make there way to the 17th (so I could be watching live again), I was in disbelief. Here was Tiger Woods, who had never lost when leading a major after 54 holes on 14 previous occasions folding to a relative unknown.

As it turned out Yang stepped up and grabbed the championship by the balls on the 18th with an approach for the ages. His pure three-hybrid for a split second looked a chance of jumping in but settled 10 feet from the cup. It was simply one of the best shots I’ve ever witnessed. The only way to back up a shot like that was to step up in front of Tiger Eldrick Woods, and as cool as a cucumber, knock it in for the three shot victory. He may not be the first Asian player to win a major (Woods can hold claim to that one) but he is the first Asian born player to join the exclusive club. With only one solitary win on the PGA Tour at the modest Honda classic earlier this season, what a way to claim your second.

His celebration of lifting his golf bag above his head and some Tiger Woods-esk fist pumps are not to be underestimated. Brace your self world. Here comes the Asian invasion. Through an interpreter he said he has learned a way to control his mental game in the heat of pressure. Clearly. Well done Yong-Eun Yang, maybe our own Danny Lee can be the next.