This was supposed to do it. Y.E. Yang wins the PGA Championship, over Tiger Woods of all "people," and the floodgates were supposed to open.
Sure, Yang had won tournaments before, but this wasn't just any tournament. You win the Honda Classic on the American soil, and that's one thing. You take down the greatest golfer of our generation, and possibly ever, in a major championship he's leading after 54 holes, and that is quite another. So, what has happened to Yang, the man that was supposed to bring golf to a whole other planet with his significant victory at Hazeltine National just three weeks ago?
So far, a fair amount.
Forget the fact that South Korea set their alarms for 4 AM the morning Yang won the PGA Championship, hoping to catch their countryman do something that nobody from that area has ever done. Look past the fact that Yang mentioned he slept around 20 hours the entire week following his major championship victory because he was trying to fulfill all the media requests that were coming his way.
Maybe this moment best describes the type of status we can now expect from the Tiger-conqueror. Out in Carlsbad, Calif. after the win, working with some guys from Taylor-Made, Yang was approached by George W. Bush on the putting green.
The two made some small talk, with Bush asked him the million dollar question.
"He asked me whether it was nerve-racking to play with Tiger for 18 holes, especially on the 18th hole," Yang said. "And before I could answer, he said it must have been less nerve-racking than his eight years in office."That is Y.E. Yang, post PGA. He's the face of a continent that has already spent years conquering the LPGA Tour. Sure, players like K.J. Choi, Shigeki Maruyama, Shingo Katayama have had success on the PGA Tour, but nobody has broke through in a big way, winning one of the marquee events over the biggest name in arguably the entire sports world.
Now, the Asian golf world isn't just a collection of random wins and the funny Cowboy hat of Katayama. They're real players, who will continue to succeed and do great things for golf on a global scale. Take this quote from South Korean president Lee Myung-bak, who was one of the many fans in the country to wake up early to see Yang make history.
The coming months will mean a lot for Yang. After the FedEx Cup, he will be pulled in multiple directions by anyone and everyone that want a piece of the man that didn't take up golf until he was 19. They will be looking at him as a hero on the other side of the pond, someone that can play this game better than anyone in the world, and might be another win away from claiming the PGA Tour Player of the Year (argument, commence)."I woke up at dawn today to watch the broadcast, and you played in a calm manner,'' Lee told Yang, according to Lee's office. "First of all, you enhanced our people's morale by winning the major title for the first time as an Asian.''
"In some ways, you could say that I was the party pooper to Tiger's long streak," Yang said. "I have the utmost respect for Tiger Woods, and I like him. He's cool. I like his swing. And there's a lot to learn from him, not just as a player, but as a person. ... We always agree that Tiger Woods has bettered the game of golf.
"I'm a bit sorry, but if I had to do it again, I would still try and win."
It's a good thing he won, because golf will now never be the same. Could Yang do to an Asian population what Tiger did to the inner-city workings of American youth? Time will quickly let us know.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
8-30-2009 @ 8:41PM
Calvin said...
what in the hell did tiger woods do for inner city anything? The man told them that he is not black. Tiger is probably scratching his head right now and saying, "wait a minute I'm Asian. An Asian has already made the mark for us. Me!".
Reply
8-31-2009 @ 12:18AM
livinginharmonym said...
LOL!! Yes, I am sure that Tiger's scratching his Causblacasisan head trying to figure out what happened.
8-31-2009 @ 2:44AM
James said...
Black? Tiger? I thought he was a Vulcan. I need to get a new T.V.
8-31-2009 @ 2:50AM
James said...
Oh, one more thing. Tiger, charity donations? Read on.
http://www.golftoday.co.uk/news/yeartodate/news_07/tiger_woods.html
8-30-2009 @ 9:08PM
disneydiv said...
Calvin,
I am not sure where you are getting your information. Tiger Woods is BLACK. His father Earl Woods was a black man. His mother is from Thailand. This would make him African American and Asian.
Whether Tiger claims his heritage is an agrument that can be made. But, he is a black man whether he likes it or not.
Reply
8-31-2009 @ 3:01AM
russell said...
calvin you said he was black and then said he had a asian mom um in my book 50% is half all day come on man get with it he is half not black he is half asian and half black lmao
8-30-2009 @ 9:11PM
Edith said...
Get over it. Bush is out of office now, so all ,you bleeding heart liberals can have your "prez". Just remember, don't drink the kool-aid, he's not the messiah.
Reply
8-30-2009 @ 9:20PM
lemmonherk said...
Disneydiv, Tiger's father was "black AND ...", meaning "black, white, and American Indian". His mother is 100% Thai; therefore, Tiger is 50% Asian, and less than 50% black. Simple fact, he's more Asian than anything else.
Reply
8-30-2009 @ 9:59PM
tee1up4u said...
Tiger is a great golfer and is a man.Bush was a sorry president and I'm sure his golf/game is just as BAD.
Reply
8-30-2009 @ 11:43PM
welcome sir said...
When are all you tree-hugging, illegal immgrant loving, vegan, liberal, punk-ass hippies gonna get over it? Bush served his term, and we're living under Obama now. When s*** goes down, you know who to blame.
8-30-2009 @ 10:01PM
patti45184 said...
It was Yang's lucky day....that's all. Just let him bask in the sunlight for awhile. Tiger Woods is one of a kind in oh so many ways. It's going to take more than a "win" to beat Tiger Woods.
Reply
8-30-2009 @ 10:37PM
Joshua said...
Give it some time, later we will be saying, Yang who?
Yang has what,a few wins. Try winning 70 like Tiger. Dont make me laugh.
Reply
8-30-2009 @ 10:57PM
stvsum said...
what did tiger do for inner-city youth? Nothing
Reply
8-30-2009 @ 11:00PM
roylrobertson said...
Beating Tiger was great,but meeting George W Bush was even greater.. What a lucky man to meet the best President ever.
Reply
8-31-2009 @ 3:38AM
Marie said...
THE BEST PRESIDENT EVER???? WHAT PLANET HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING ON?? IT CERTAINLY WAS NOT EARTH!!!!!
8-30-2009 @ 11:03PM
roylrobertson said...
Beating Tiger Woods would be great,but meeting George W Bush would be even greater
Reply
8-30-2009 @ 11:07PM
homesbyvikki said...
I agree Meeting George W Bush would be the best thing you could do in ones life time
Reply
8-30-2009 @ 11:32PM
Kay said...
You Bush-whackers are crazy...he F#$Ked this country good. Furthermore....WHY DO CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE AND POLITICS TURN TO RACE AND POLITICS?
And stop making up S#@t...When and where did Tiger deny he was Black. I believe he called himself multi-racial. Done...End (Rant)
Reply
8-31-2009 @ 12:10AM
gkeithchesterton said...
You will note that it was an anti-Bush nut who brought the man up in the first place. As for Bush's defenders, I think they were simply engaging in a bit of hyperbole so as to stick it to the original poster and evoke responses.
However, having said that, you cannot name three ways in which Bush messed up the country (I could, but you can't. However, I could name ten ways in which Obama is utterly destroying it). You're simply reacting emotionally and parroting what the mainstream media have fed you. Oh, and don't bother trying to vindicate yourself if you're going to offer vague platitudes such as "Bush destroyed the economy," as specificity will be required. After all, to mindlessly blame the economy on him is like saying that FDR was responsible for WWII because it began under his watch. Such a thing would be stupid.
Don't be stupid.
8-30-2009 @ 11:56PM
beachbogger87 said...
All of you are killing me! Bush did nothing more than Obama is planning to do with money. end of that. Anyone who has played golf understands luck has nothing to do with it. The Korean guy is one hell of a person to pick up such a game at 19. It is a very difficult game to become great at. Give the man the credit and respect he deserves just as you do Tiger. AND WHO CARES WHETHER HE IS BLACK, WHITE, THAI, WHATEVER!!! I though everyone was pushing for equality; yet we still seperate the races over everything??? Both golfers are amazing athletes. Try walking all those miles for three days straight with your muscles burning and still having to use your mind for every shot.
Reply