An Asian golfer had never triumphed in a major men's tournament. To correct this, he needed to be called 'The Tiger Killer.'
During the 2009 PGA Championship on a Sunday morning, a 37-year-old South Korean, who was ranked 110th in the world, was just 18 holes away from accomplishing a literary feat. He was on the verge of becoming the first Asian-born player to win a major golf championship.
However, one piece of history had to be erased for this new tale to be inscribed. Tiger Woods, the world's number one player for an unbroken four years, had never surrendered a major championship after holding the lead at the start of the final round - he had achieved an astonishing 14 wins out of 14 attempts.
Most people assumed that his 14-round winning streak would remain undefeated, as Yang stood two shots behind Woods during the last round at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota.
Yang's identity, however, caused a surprise. He was the so-called 'Tiger Killer.'
The Average Joe
In 1978, a toddler Woods made an appearance on "The Mike Douglas Show" in the US, showcasing his extraordinary golf swing to the public. In contrast, Yang, who was seven years senior to Woods, didn't even know about the game of golf until he was 19.
While Woods had already made his debut at The Masters and became the youngest major winner at Augusta National, Yang didn't have the faintest idea about professional golf tournaments, let alone the PGA Tour.
An aspiring bodybuilder, Yang had envisioned owning a gym. But when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a staircase fall, his dreams crumbled. He required an income to meet his ends, and thus, he landed a job at his local driving range, as suggested by a friend.
The pay was meager relative to Woods' soaring riches, but the job provided Yang with food, shelter, and, most importantly, a golf club in his hands. He became fascinated with the game after his first-ever swing and managed to break par for the first time three years later through self-instruction using videos.
Yang had no intention to take the sport any further until he learned about professional golf circuits in Korea and beyond. He turned semi-professional at the age of 23 and became a professional in the following August.
He won his first title in 2003, but he was still struggling to secure PGA Tour membership and had not won any events outside Asia. However, his seventh win at the 2006 HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, left an indelible mark. The field of stars was no match for Yang's performance, even Woods.
In 2006, when Woods finished as runner-up, he trailed Yang by three strokes, and they would meet again.
"Who is this Y.E. Yang?"
Although Yang had proven his mettle in China and beyond, he was still relatively unknown when he arrived at the PGA Tour qualifying event the following year.
When a fellow caddie texted him about a talented South Korean seeking a bagman for the second stage, AJ Montecinos responded, "Who the hell is Y.E. Yang?"
Montecinos was amazed by Yang's mental prowess when they paired up for the first time. He never once overthought or got in his way; he just played golf!
But Montecinos was left to sell mortgage loans in San Antonio while Yang made it to the final stage of qualifying, this time with a different caddie and then, for his debut PGA Tour season.
Fate interfered, though, as Yang wound up in 157th place in terms of the money list for the season, and he was forced to return to qualifying school next year. Monetinos was now back as Yang's caddie, and their reunion resulted in his first PGA Tour triumph at the Honda Classic. He joined K.J. Choi as the only South Koreans to win on the main circuit.
Regardless, Yang's chances of becoming a major champion seemed slim in comparison to Tiger Woods.
The Tiger's Den
As Yang arrived at the PGA Championship that August, his odds were hardly favorable. Though he had emerged as a dark horse, he was a mortal against the mighty Tiger Woods.
In seven prior major appearances, Yang had only managed to make two cuts, but he arrived at Hazeltine with the self-assurance of a seasoned competitor and ended up in a tied-ninth position, six strokes behind leader Woods.
The pack of contenders caught up on Saturday, and none faster than Yang, who produced a magnificent 67 for five under par. Not only did this bring him within two shots of Woods, but it also secured him a final round pairing with him.
Yang had once beaten Woods, but this was a completely different environment. He told reporters later, "At first when I saw the tee time, I was just really happy to be in the last group on the final day of a major. For a split second, that was the first thought. And then second, my heart nearly pounded and exploded [from] being so nervous."
Restless, Yang struggled to sleep the night before and woke up drowsy and somewhat anxious on Sunday morning. However, his caddie, Montecinos, offered some encouraging words. Any fears Montecinos had vanished as Yang shot off the blocks and reached the fifth hole tied for first place with Woods.
“From those first few holes, I didn’t know if he was going to win, but I knew he wasn’t going to back down—and that’s all I cared about,” Montecinos said. “I think being nervous is a good thing. But knowing how to harness that nervous energy and knowing how to utilize that for your good instead of for your harm, I think that’s what makes Yang so special."
Despite facing not only Woods the golfer, but also the 50-person-deep crowds cheering each of his shots and an "aura" that even the greatest have crumbled under, Yang refused to surrender.
"Oh, you definitely feel it. He had that kind of intimidation factor ever since he came on Tour," Montecinos, who played against Woods in high school, remembered. "Playing golf with Tiger in a major is like playing golf on the inside of a radio with every station going at the same time.”
Yang's nerves were all but contained at the sixth hole when he encountered a rules official who demanded him to pick up the tempo of his play.
"Not me," Yang answered nonchalantly, pointing at Woods.
As Woods stumbled under a series of wayward putts, Yang secured the lead with an incredible chip-in eagle at the 14th hole. The South Korean rejoiced jubilantly, and repeated the celebration four holes later with a birdie putt on the 18th after a spectacular approach shot—his victory gesture, the championship trophy raised above his head.
With Woods only able to manage a bogey, compounding a disheartening three-over 75 for his final round, Yang emerged victorious and gained the moniker "The Tiger Killer."
"I wasn’t that nervous because it's a game of golf," Yang told reporters. "It's not like... you're battling against Tiger and he's going to bite you or swing at you with his nine-iron. I knew the odds were against me. I aimed to be the least nervous I have ever been and went for broke. The worst I could do was just lose to Tiger and drop a few positions on the final scoreboard. Nobody would be particularly disappointed if I lost. So I really had nothing at risk, and that's how I played it."
Woods, denied his record-equaling fifth PGA Championship title, was gracious in defeat.
"I don’t think he really missed a shot all day... I think he played beautifully," Woods said. "It was just a matter of time before an Asian-born player became a major champion.”
The commotion back home was palpable.
"It was pandemonium,” Montecinos recounted, imagining the countless spectators arriving at the airport in the small hours to welcome Yang in Korea. "When he touched down for the Hong Kong Open, Asia’s first major champion was greeted by the sight of himself plastered on the side of a ten-story building."
"It was just unbelievable, very surreal," Montecinos added. "To be a part of history, I'm thankful."
A year later at the Masters, Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama joined Yang in the exclusive club of major winners for Asian-born players. On the women's side, the club is considerably smaller, with only 35 LPGA major trophies claimed by South Korean champions.
Yang separated from Montecinos several years ago, but the two recently reconnected at a tournament for senior golfers known as the PGA Tour Champions. Yang, who is 52 now, is trying to score his first win on the circuit.
Montecinos described their reunion as "cool." He added, "I missed my relationship with Yang ... We had fun together."
Yang's winningest moment on the PGA Tour came at the PGA Championship in 1999. This is the last victory he has recorded in an official tournament. However, his status as a past champion ensures his consistent participation in the event. Besides 2020, he has been present at every edition since his win, and he's making his 17th appearance - this time at Valhalla in Kentucky.
Montecinos current trainee is Chris Gotterup, a 24-year-old American golfer. Gotterup qualified for Valhalla by winning the Myrtle Beach Classic for the first time on Sunday.
Tiger Woods, 48, the former number one golfer, is also scheduled to attend. He's competing at Valhalla, still aiming for his fifth Wanamaker trophy. Woods has a long list of injuries, but he plans to keep testing his capacity.
Montecinos believes his former colleague, Woods, still has a chance. "I don't think you should ever doubt that man," he said. "He's accomplished things in golf that no one else has. It can't be measured: Tiger Woods' mental fortitude in the game."
"I believe he will win big again," the coach said. "I don't know when, or if it will be at a major, but I don't doubt him. Tiger Woods has moved the needle of golf purses. So we should be grateful for him."
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During the PGA Championship, Yang managed to stay calm and focused despite being paired with Tiger Woods in the final round.
After becoming the first Asian-born player to win a major golf championship, Yang was often referred to as 'The Tiger Killer.'
Source: edition.cnn.com
