Asia celebrated on Monday after unheralded Yang Yong-Eun stunned Tiger Woods to become the region's first major-winner, capping a years-long boom in the fast-growing market. Golf fans from politicians to office workers watched on live TV as South Korea's Yang birdied the last with a sizzling approach over a tree to seal the PGA Championship by three shots over the world number one.
"That's probably the shot of the year," Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han told AFP. "Especially against Tiger - that's as high a pressure shot as you can have." South Korea's President Lee Myung-Bak phoned Yang to praise him for the win, which dominated Monday's cabinet meeting.
"You raised the morale of our people by becoming the first Asian to secure a major title," Lee told Yang. Korean TV repeatedly aired footage of Yang's final putt and unusual celebration, when he power-lifted his golf bag above his head. Meanwhile his parents' home in the resort of island of Jeju was swamped with phone-calls and the Munhwa afternoon newspaper pictured a jubilant Yang on its front page.
Yang breaks an Asian jinx in majors after three players - Taiwan's Huan Lu-Liang and T.C. Chen, and Japan's Isao Aoki - came runner-up in the 1970s and 1980s. He is also the first player to overhaul a lead by Woods, a 14-time major champion, in one of golf's big four tournaments.
"Everyone's pretty thrilled. It was pretty emotional," said Asian Tour chief Han. "Especially beating Tiger, that was something else. "It's not only about being an Asian player - Tiger has never lost being in the lead, this is the first time."
Yang, 37, cut his teeth on the Asian circuit, winning four times in Japan before his breakthrough victory - also against Woods - at the 2006 HSBC Champions in Shanghai. "The victor, Yang, has leaped forward using the Japan Tour as a foothold," Japan's Mainichi newspaper said in its online edition. Han predicted more big wins for Asian players as the region's young players gain experience against the world's best in tournaments jointly sanctioned by the European Tour.
"I see a lot more of this happening," he said. "A lot of our younger players are showing a lot of game but they need a lot more exposure and more opportunities. "By Yang winning it just shows it can be done. It shows there's a lot of great things coming."
Yang began the final round two strokes off the pace but pulled even on the front nine and took a one-stroke lead over Woods with an eagle chip-in at the 14th. Both took bogey at 17 and Woods missed a birdie chip at the 18th as Yang confirmed the historic victory with a six-foot birdie.
"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." Yang said despite the win, he still considered himself a "lower-than-average PGA Tour player."
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