PGA CHAMPIONSHIP RELATED STORIES PGA Championship Home PGA Championship Preview Round 1: Tiger Woods leads after a flawless 67 Round 1: Harrington enjoying Tiger rematch Round 1: John Daly withdraws after a 78 Round 1: Phil Mickelson struggles with the putter Round 1: Allenby happy despite double bogey Round 1: Rory McIlroy off to encouraging start Round 2: Tiger Woods opens a four shot lead Round 2: Padraig Harrington still chasing Tiger Round 2: Ian Poulter moves up the leaderboard Round 2: Late bogies cost Ross Fisher Round 2: Club pro Grant Sturgeon holding on Round 2: Phil Mickelson struggles but makes cut Round 3: Tiger Woods holds on to two shot lead Round 3: Solid Harrington closes in on lead Round 3: YE Yang vaults in to final pairing Round 3: Late bogies pull Ernie Els back Round 4: Yang becomes first Asian major winner Round 4: Putting touch fails Tiger Woods Round 4: YE Yang's win a big boost for Asian golf Round 4: 8 on 8th ends Harrington's chances Round 4: Lee Westwood happy with third place Round 4: Eagle the sole highlight for Phil Mickelson Round 4: Very different future now for YE Yang Round 4: South Korea celebrates YE Yang's win Tiger Woods the focus of attention Phil Mickelson excited to be playing again Hazeltine - the longest major course ever Westwood hoping to drive way to major success Usual major questions for Sergio Garcia Year of almost great major stories Rich Beem back at scene of famous win Tiger Woods toughens up on slow play ruling Rory McIlroy happy to be patient Trevor Immelman out of PGA Championship Paul Casey to decide on PGA today Tiger on a winning run heading into PGA PGA Championship Scores 2009 PGA Tour Schedule and Results 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 RELATED STORIES FROM ASIAN GOLF TODAY Round 4: Asia welcomes its first Major winner Round 4: Yang tames the Tiger and becomes first Asian major winner Round 3: Yang is on Tiger's tail in historic bid Round 2: Vijay is in the hunt for a third PGA title Round 1: Thongchai off to strong start at Hazeltine Preview: Asians out in force at Hazeltine 2009 Honda Classic: YE Yang clinches maiden PGA Tour win 2006 HSBC Champions: Yang beats major champions and claims biggest career win 2006 Korean Open: Yang triumphs in Kolon-Hana Bank Korea US PGA Roll of Honour The PGA Championship - Tournament history and records MORE ASIAN GOLF NEWS Han Will Speak At IHT Sports Summit Volvik Agree With Asian Tour Over Sponsorship Memories Inspire Rai In Singapore Break Gives Mamat Route To Success Singapore Classic Welcomes Kia Motors PGA Malaysia Moves To OneAsia CCM Extends Sponsorship Of Impian Masters Faldo To Play In Pro-Am In Cambodia

Asia welcomes its first Major winner

Asia welcomed its first Major winner when Korea’s Yang Yong-eun stormed impressively to become the first Asian golfer to win a Major title at the 91st PGA Championship on Sunday.

The two-time Asian Tour winner trailed overnight leader and world number one Tiger Woods by two shots going into the final round.

However the Korean who had claimed a memorable victory over Woods at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai in 2006 made sure that he would repeat that feat over the American again when he battled a two-under-par 70 to defeat Woods by three shots.

"It will be a bit of a crazy party tonight. I knew the odds were against me. I tried to be the least nervous I’ve ever been and went for broke," said Yang who closed with a four-day total of eight-under-par 280 at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

"It wasn't as nerve wracking as I thought it might be. When I saw the pairings the night before I was really happy to be in the final group of a Major. My heart was pounding and nearly exploded. I had a rough night but as soon as I got to the first tee I became myself. It is what I have always sort of envisioned,"added Yang.

With his win, the Korean also spoilt Woods‘s bid to win his 15th Major. It is only the second time in his career that Woods who posted a final 75, has lost when having the lead going into the final round, and the first time at a Major.

Yang clinched the win when he drained a 10-foot birdie putt on the closing 18th after having set the stage with a brilliant 202-yard approach shot that sailed over a tree and rolled onto the green.

Meanwhile Asian Tour honorary member Vijay Singh posted a 73 for a 289 to take a share of 16th place while K.J Choi took tied-24th place on 291.

Current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand closed in tied-36th after signing off with a 293 while Korea’s Charlie Wi took a share of 56th place on 296. Asia’s number one in 2008, Jeev Milkha Singh of India closed in tied-67th on 299.

August 17, 2009