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South Korea's Y.E. Yang become the first Asian golfer to capture a men's Major title, firing a two-under par 70 to record a stunning upset of Tiger Woods and win the 91st PGA Championship.

The 37-year-old posted one of the biggest upsets in Major golf history, defeating Woods by three strokes and snapping the world No.1's perfect 14-0 record when leading a Major tournament after 54 holes.

The No.110th-ranked Asian dynamo went into the final round a heavy underdog as he had only one US PGA victory to 70 career wins and 14 major championships for Woods.

"It will be a bit of a crazy party tonight," Yang said.

"I knew the odds were against me. I tried to be the least nervous I have ever been and went for broke."

Yang, who didn't take up golf until age 19, won by three strokes and spoiled Woods bid to win the PGA for a record-tying fifth time. Yang finished 72 holes on eight-under par 280.

Woods, who went into the day with a two-shot lead, shot a three-over 75.

England's Lee Westwood and rising star Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tied for third, five shots back of Yang and one ahead of US Open winner Lucas Glover.

Australia's Brendan Jones folded down the stretch to shoot 77 and finish tied with countryman Robert Allenby at three-over.

Yang, who earned $A1.63 million in prize money, clinched the win with a two-metre birdie putt on the 18th hole at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

He set the stage with a brilliant 185-metre approach shot that sailed over a tree and rolled onto the green.

"It wasn't as nerve wracking as I thought it might be,'' Yang said. "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.''

Yang not only becomes the first Asian to win a Major, he also bettered the previous best performance by a South Korean. His compatriot K.J. Choi was third in the 2004 Masters tournament.

The win beats the top prior Major peformances by an Asian of Taiwan's Huan Lu-Liang, who finished runner-up in the 1971 British Open, and Japan's Isao Aoki, who placed second in the 1980 US Open. Taiwan's Chen Tze-Chung also tied for second at the 1985 US Open.

"You knew it was just a matter of time before an Asian-born player was going to win,'' Woods said.

"We had a lot of great players over the years starting with Jumbo (Masashi Ozaki) and Isao (Aoki) has come close.''

Yang's round included 13 pars, two birdies, two bogeys and an eagle.

"I thought if I aim true and make a good shot that I have a good chance to seal the deal,'' Yang said. "I knew Tiger could always have a bad day so I guess this was that day.''

Woods was seeking his first major win of the season after missing the cut in the British Open. He did not play in last year's PGA because he was recovering from reconstructive knee surgery.
There is a long list of challengers and would-be major champions who have wilted under Woods's final-round glare but Yang would not go away.

"He played beautifully,'' Woods said of Yang. "He did the things he needed to do. He was driving the ball in play, hitting the ball in the correct parts of the green.

"I was certainly in control of the tournament for most of the day. I just didn't make the putts I needed to make.''

Yang took the lead for the first time with an eagle on the par-four 14th hole to reach eight under. Yang made a long chip in from for eagle and Woods answered by rolling in a four-metre putt for birdie to stay one back of Yang.

Woods parred the first three holes before making bogey for the second straight day on the par-3 4th hole and then doing it again on the 8th hole.

Woods three-putted the 4th hole, missing a routine four footer to the right side of the hole.

"I just didn't make the putts when I needed to,'' Woods said. "I had a few misreads out there.''

Woods finished with five bogeys and just two birdies.

tim

Aug 17 2009, 06:18 AM

tiger is half azn anyway, dummy.