Y.E. Yang Snaps Woods' Streak at 91st PGA Championship

Make no mistake, Y.E.Yang flat out beat Tiger Woods to capture the 91st PGA Championship at Hazeltine ending Woods 14 major tournament winning streak when holding the 54 hole lead. Yang's final round 70 earned him a three shot win after Woods' 75 put the streak in it's final resting place. Y.E. finished the tourney at -8. I suppose it was inevitable. After all, Jack Nicklaus finished 2nd a record 19 times in majors. Granted, Woods' 33 whacks with the flat stick in the final round didn't help his cause, but it was Yang who chipped in for eagle on the drivable par four 14th and it was Yang who stuck it to eight feet from 207 yards on 18 to set up just the third birdie of the day on the closing hole and seal the deal. Those were shots we've come to expect Woods to pull off under major championship pressure. Yang simply out-Tigered Tiger. Full Field Final Scores.

Consider the fact that Yang didn't begin playing golf until he was 19 years old and then donated 18 months to the Korean army. That's spotting the field a lifetime of experience. His breakthrough win was earlier this year at the Honda Classic. In the short time since then he's demonstrated he's a quick learner. Expect the 37 year old to set off an explosion in Asian golf, a fete accomplished for the women's game by Se Ri Pak. Asia's already building courses like crazy and Yang's triumph is just the catalyst needed to propel the game from the ground up. Golf is truly an international sport with Y.E. Yang's victory the latest exclamation point.

The final men's major of the year is really the curtain drop for the 2009 men's professional season. Everything else is just an encore with us holding the lighters in the dark. Average Golfer will still pay attention of course, especially this week's Solheim Cup being of interest, but the influence of international players dents some venerable events. The Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup may have to revisit their protocol with so many top players coming from outside Europe and the US. The contrived Fedex Cup hasn't gotten much of my interest other than it being a ridiculous pay day. Your opinions?

Finally..............Congrats to Y.E. Yang!




Til' next,

Falling Stars at The Honda Classic

Pro golf stars are fading like five dollar beach towels at The Honda Classic at PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. So, either "all these guys are good" or the big boys are a little off their game. I suppose it's a mildly good sign that Honda kept their sponsorship given the current state of the auto industry.

Household name, Y.E. Yang was the leader after today's 2nd round at 68, 65, 133. Yang's roller coaster career has included the highlight of beating Tiger Woods at the HSBC Champions in 2006 and the low light of being disqualified in defending his title in Shanghai for having an incorrect scorecard. A recognizable name, Robert Allenby was one back at 134. The rest of the top of the leader board was filled with journeymen players including Will MacKenzie, 134, Jeff Overton, 134, Ben Crane, 135, David Mathis, 136, etc., etc. With all due respect to Mrs. and Mrs. Klauk, I haven't heard of their son Jeff, who was settled into a six way tie for 7th. 19 year old Rory McIlroy, along with Stewart Cink were bigger names that were within pistol range, five behind Yang.

To find the big names you had to scroll farther down the list. Sergio, 6 back, Rocco, 7 back, Calcavecchia, 8 back, Darren Clarke, 8 back, Davis Love III, 9 back, Woody, 10 back, defender Ernie Els, 10 back, Leonard, 10 back, Lowery, 10 back. Evidently 10 back is a popular spot to make a move on Saturday from.

Missed cuts, (+3), featured Appleby, Faxon, Romero, JB Holmes, Villegas, Snedeker, and Justin Rose.

The "feel great" story is undoubtedly Erik Compton. His pair of 69s put the double heart transplant recipient, with the last being in 2008, at within five shots of the leader. 2nd place "feel good" story was Tadd Fujikawa, 18 year old Hawaiian, whose 20 foot birdie on his final hole put him one shot within the cut line, 9 shots off the pace. Fujikawa had the dubious distinction of finishing dead last through two rounds of this tournament last year.

Stay tuned to see if a relative no-name breaks from the pack, earns a two year tour exemption, and places his name on your watch list.



Til' next,