South Korea's Yang Yong-eun Sunday became the first Asian player to win an PGA major title with a stunning victory against Tiger Woods.
According to The Associated Press, Woods was 14-0 when he went into the final round of a major atop the leaderboard. He had not lost any tournament around the world in nine years when leading by two shots.
Yet none of that mattered to Yang, a 37-year-old Korean who hit the shots everyone expected from Woods. Leading by one on the final hole, Yang frustrated golf's giant with a hybrid 3-iron that cleared the bunker and settled 12 feet from the cup.
Yang made the birdie putt and shouted with joy as he pumped his fist. That gave him a 2-under 70, and a three-shot victory when Woods missed yet another short par putt and shot 75, AP said.
``I tried to master the art of controlling my emotions throughout the small wins I had in my career,'' Yang was quoted as saying through his agent, Michael Yim. ``I think it turned out quite well today.''
It was the second time Woods has finished runner-up in the PGA Championship at Hazeltine, both times to a surprise winner. Seven years ago, he birdied the last four holes and came up one short of
Rich Beem.
This time, Woods made one mistake after another over the last four holes, mostly with his putter.
``I did everything I needed to do, except for getting the ball in the hole,'' Woods was quoted as saying. ``Just didn't make the putts when I needed to make them.''
Yang was No. 110 in the world, his only victory on the PGA Tour coming in March at the Honda Classic, on a course across the street from headquarters of the PGA of America. He was best known for holding off Woods at the HSBC Championship in China three years ago.
He took the lead for the first time all week by chipping in for eagle from about 20 yards short of the 14th green. And when it looked as though nerves were getting the best of him on a three-putt bogey at the 17th, he delivered his two most important shots.
Yang still had enough strength left to hoist his golf bag over his head, and later the heavy Wanamaker Trophy. After a long and tearful embrace with his wife, he walked across a bridge saluting thousands of fans who could barely believe what they saw.