Who Is Y.E Yang? PGA Tour Pro Who Defeated Tiger Woods’s Career Explored

The story of Y.E. Yang’s rise to fame is full of some super exciting moments. One of his career’s defining moments was when he won over Tiger Woods at the 2009 PGA Championship and made major championship history by becoming the only player to overcome a 54-hole lead by Woods.

Interestingly enough, having a career in golf was not one of Y.E. Yang’s dreams until he turned 19. He knew very little about golf at the time. Surely, his journey from indifference towards the sport to becoming an inspiration for millions of fans warrants that we know more about him!

Understanding the man who beat Tiger Woods better

Being a so-called Tiger Tamer is only one of the many interesting things about Y.E. Yang. Even after coming from rather humble beginnings and starting comparatively later in the game, Yang’s hard work and dedication have guided him to greatness.

He has made several headlines in his time playing on the PGA Tour, European Tours, Japan Golf Tour, and Asian Golf Tour. Surely this ex-military man has experience from all over the golf world. He is famously referred to as the ‘Son of the Wind’ due to his ability to play exceedingly well even on days with high wind speeds.

Yang was one of the last ten players to re-earn the Tour card in 2008. Even after displaying considerably higher potential in the sport, re-earning the card did not come easy to him. It took him several tries to finally make the card his own as he shot 6-under 66 on the final day of the PGA Tour Q-School.

His win over Tiger Woods at the 2009 PGA Championship was not the first time he was referred to as ‘The Tiger Killer.’ He also made a notable win over the 15x major champion in 2006 at the HSBC Championship in Shanghai, China, by two strokes. Y.E. Yang has made full use of the opportunities that life has presented him; he is currently playing for the PGA Tour Champions. Despite his rise to success, he has made sure to express his gratitude towards his loved ones.

Yang’s gratitude to his family for the success he has achieved

The 51-year-old gold star has credited his family for his success in the past. Evidence of this can be seen in how he has made it a point to acknowledge his wife, Park Joo Yeong. She used to watch him on TV, and he made gestures for her while on course. When asked about his unique gesture, the South Korean golfer said, “Those were for my wife.” He even dedicated his 2009 PGA Championship trophy to his beloved wife.

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The couple has seen the worst and the best of days together. Since their marriage in 1999, the duo has nurtured three children together: Hyeonwoo, Isu, and Kyungmin. His family is one of the reasons why Y.E. Yang continues to strive for excellence.

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