I’m the ‘Tiger killer’ that took down Tiger Woods to make men’s major championship golf history months after earning tour card
16 years ago, Y.E. Yang happened. The PGA Championship will get underway this week, but no matter what happens at Quail Hollow Club, it will be hard to top what took place back in 2009 at the major event. Woods was the best golfer in the world in 2009Getty This is when the 110th-ranked player in the world, Yang, shocked the golf world and outlasted prime Tiger Woods to win the PGA Championship and become the first Asia-born player to win a major golf championship. Yang took down Woods against all the odds. Specifically. At the time, Woods was the world No. 1 for four years and counting, while looking to capture his fifth PGA Championship, and third in four years. Woods had never surrendered a major after starting the final round atop the leaderboard — 14 leads, 14 wins. He was undefeated when leading after 54 holes. He entered Sunday with a two-stroke lead. Then Yang happened. Woods and Yang were paired together for the final round, and Yang was able to out-duel Woods, and thus the ‘Tiger killer’ was born. The then-37-year-old South Korean shot the round of his life to win his first and only major championship that day. He finished at 8-under par, three strokes ahead of Woods. Yang secured the win with a birdie putt on the last holeGetty Yang and Woods both showed great sportsmanship at the end The 91st PGA Championship is Yang’s only major winGetty Yang spoke to reporters after the biggest win of his career and revealed about what was going on in his head. “I wasn’t that nervous because it’s a game of golf,” Yang told reporters. “It’s not like … you’re fighting against Tiger and he’s going to bite you or swing at you with his nine-iron. “I knew the odds were against me. I tried to be the least nervous I have ever been and went for broke. “The worst I could do was just lose to Tiger and go a few ranks down in the final scoreboard. Nobody is going to be really disappointed that I lose. “So I really had nothing much at stake and that’s how I played it.” Woods was gracious in defeat as he gave all the credit to Yang and his performance. “I don’t think he really missed a shot all day … I think he played beautifully,” Woods said. “It was just a matter of time before an Asian-born player was going to win.” Yang had only secured his PGA Tour card a few months prior to the major championship. Fast forward to August 16th, 2009, and when the dust settled, Yang had a tiger-sized pelt hanging on his wall.
16 years ago, Y.E. Yang happened.
The PGA Championship will get underway this week, but no matter what happens at Quail Hollow Club, it will be hard to top what took place back in 2009 at the major event.
This is when the 110th-ranked player in the world, Yang, shocked the golf world and outlasted prime Tiger Woods to win the PGA Championship and become the first Asia-born player to win a major golf championship.
Yang took down Woods against all the odds.
Specifically.
At the time, Woods was the world No. 1 for four years and counting, while looking to capture his fifth PGA Championship, and third in four years.
Woods had never surrendered a major after starting the final round atop the leaderboard — 14 leads, 14 wins.
He was undefeated when leading after 54 holes.
He entered Sunday with a two-stroke lead.
Then Yang happened.
Woods and Yang were paired together for the final round, and Yang was able to out-duel Woods, and thus the ‘Tiger killer’ was born.
The then-37-year-old South Korean shot the round of his life to win his first and only major championship that day.
He finished at 8-under par, three strokes ahead of Woods.
Yang spoke to reporters after the biggest win of his career and revealed about what was going on in his head.
“I wasn’t that nervous because it’s a game of golf,” Yang told reporters.
“It’s not like … you’re fighting against Tiger and he’s going to bite you or swing at you with his nine-iron.
“I knew the odds were against me. I tried to be the least nervous I have ever been and went for broke.
“The worst I could do was just lose to Tiger and go a few ranks down in the final scoreboard. Nobody is going to be really disappointed that I lose.
“So I really had nothing much at stake and that’s how I played it.”
Woods was gracious in defeat as he gave all the credit to Yang and his performance.
“I don’t think he really missed a shot all day … I think he played beautifully,” Woods said.
“It was just a matter of time before an Asian-born player was going to win.”
Yang had only secured his PGA Tour card a few months prior to the major championship.
Fast forward to August 16th, 2009, and when the dust settled, Yang had a tiger-sized pelt hanging on his wall.
