Y.E. Yang

Height: 5 ft. 9 in

Weight: 195 lbs

Birthday: 01/15/1972

College: –

Turned Pro: 1996

Birthplace: Jeju-do, South Korea

Country: Republic of South Korea

Sponsor: Taylor Made

Yang holds the distinction of being the first, and currently only Asian winner of a Major Championship. He captured the 2009 PGA Championship, winning by three shots from Tiger Woods.

He first came to prominence in 2006 when he won the prestigious HSBC Tournament of Champions evet. He qualified as a result of winning his native open, an event on the Asian Tour. He beat Tiger Woods by two shots. The win allowed him to play on the European Tour. In 2008, Yang went to PGA Tour Q School where he got his full card. He had to return to Q School a year later after losing his card.

2009 was a year of dreams for Yang. He captured his first PGA Tour title in March at the Honda Classic. He then went on to become the first Asian Major Champion when he won the PGA Championship at Hazeltine Country Club. It was also the first time that Woods failed to win a Major after leading going into the final round. Yang finished the season a career best 10th on the money list.

He has failed to win on the PGA Tour since but won the Volvo China Open in 2010, an event on the European Tour. Yang had another decent year in 2011 when he finished 32nd on the money list with his best finish being second place at the Honda Classic. Yang has struggled since then and would have lost his card sooner if it wasn’t for the five year exemption he had gained by winning the PGA Championship. After the 2014 season, the Korean finally lost his card.