Breakthrough title could have major impact for Asian golf

by Jim SLATER

GOLF: CHASKA, Minnesota, Aug 23, 2009: Yang Yong-Eun, the first Asian to win a major men’s golf title, hopes his victory in Sunday’s PGA Championship will inspire golfers across Asia to work harder and dream larger.

The 37-year-old South Korean stunned world number one Tiger Woods in a head-to-head battle, emerging from the final round at Hazeltine with a historic three-stroke triumph that could have a major impact for golf across Asia.

“It just means the world right now,” Yang said. “It hasn’t really sunken in but I do know the significance of it.”

Recalling he impact upon him of victories by such South Korean stars as Se Ri Pak in women’s majors and K.J. Choi in US PGA events, Yang said he would hope that his breakthrough would inspire a new generation of Asians.

“I would hope this win would be something quite parallel to an impact so that all the young golfers, Korean and Asian, would probably build their dreams and expand their horizons a bit with this win,” Yang said.

Woods, who began Sunday with a two-stroke edge on Yang, had not lost a major when leading after 54 holes but the 14-time major winner was outplayed by Yang, whose chip-in at the 14th and birdie at the 18th sealed a three-stroke victory.

Woods, whose mother Kultida is from Thailand, said that he was certain an Asian major victory was coming, but the fact that it was 110th-ranked Yang was more of a shocker that showed how much talent there is in Asia.

“It was going to happen one day,” Woods said. “If anyone would have thought it would be a Korean player, people would have probably suspected it would be K.J. because obviously has played well for such a long period of time.

“YE has won now a couple big events. He won one here in the States prior to this in West Palm (Beach). He is getting better. He is playing better.”

Asians had finished second three times in men’s majors.

Taiwan’s Huan Lu-Liang finished second to Lee Trevino by a stroke in the 1971 British Open at Royal Birkdale.

Japan’s Isao Aoki was second to Jack Nicklaus by two at Baltusrol in the 1980 US Open and Taiwan’s T.C. Chen shared second by a shot to Andy North at the 1985 US Open.

Matter of time

“It was a matter of time before an Asian-born player was going to win,” said Woods.

“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.”

On the LPGA Tour, Pak has won five major titles, the first of them at the 1998 LPGA Championship and US Women’s Open. That has led to more than 40 South Koreans claiming places on the US-based women’s elite circuit.

“If you look back with Asian golf, I think it was back when Se Ri Pak won the US Open. That really created a huge boom in Korea golf-wise where everybody started picking up clubs instead of tennis rackets and baseball bats,” Yang said.

“With K.J. Choi winning his first tournament in the oh-so-tough PGA Tour, that also increased the popularity of golf.”

Now Yang will be the symbol of success for a continent.“Honestly I’m not prepared. But I guess I have to get used to it,” Yang said of the spotlight which awaits him, as does a berth in every major for the next five years.

“I’ve never been used to playing in front of such a huge crowd so it really didn’t affect me that much. Probably that was a good thing. I knew beforehand it was going to be Tiger’s crowd. Never had a doubt about that. “But I did hear my name start to be called out, especially on the back nine.”

Yang - many years in US tour

Yang, who has a new home in Dallas, will play on the US PGA Tour for years and might even consider the 2016 Olympics should golf be approved for the lineup in October - a goal that Yang’s victory might help bring about.

“There are still a lot of aspiring golfers in Korea. In 2016 I think Korea has a very good chance both in the individual and team matches,” said Yang, who will be 44 when the 2016 Olympics are staged.

“We might not win the gold but I think Korea has a good chance to win a few medals, silver and bronze.”

Then he paused and decided it was time to think bigger.

“I think Korea has a really good chance at winning gold as well,” he added.

Consider it a call to arms for South Korean youth and a challenge to the rest of Asia and the world.

AFP