Y.E. Yang

Yang started practicing at a local driving range in Korea at age 19 on friend's advice. Spent required time in the South Korean military beginning at age 21, guarding a naval port. Traveled to New Zealand after his military stay to pursue a golf career. Victory at the 2009 Honda Classic secured a PGA Tour exemption for two years, when he defeated Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, earning his first major championship. Got his Tour card at Q-School in 2007, but had to return and made it through again in 2008. Before winning on the PGA Tour, he first won on the Japan Tour, which he played full time between 2002 and 2006. Got a big break in winning the first tournament of the 2007 European Tour schedule when he held off an elite field, including an impressive pack of major winners Michael Campbell, Retief Goosen and Tiger Woods to win the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai. Immediately took up European Tour membership. It was his third victory during the 2006 calendar year, following earlier successes in Asia and Japan. Voted Korean PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1999. Prior to winning the HSBC Champions, plied his trade on the Japan Golf Tour, winning four times from 2004. Played on the 2009 and 2011 Presidents Cup team.
2002 Japan PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 15; in money - 7; Top-10 finishes - 0; scoring average - 72.11 (ranked T-74); money Yen4,025,633 (ranked 117th); best finish, T-18, Diamond Cup Tournament.
2003 Japan PGA Tour Summary: Played in just one event, missed cut at Asia Japan Okinawa Open.
2004 Japan PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 23; in money - 18; Top-10 finishes - 8; scoring average - 70.54 (ranked 10th); money Yen96,020,908 (ranked 3rd); winner, Sun Chlorella Classic & Asahi-Ryokuken Yomiuri Asolizuka.
2005 Japan PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 21; in money - 17; Top-10 finishes - 7; scoring average - 70.35 (ranked 6th); money Yen61,752,125 or $526,895 (ranked 10th); winner, Coca-Cola Tokai Classic.
2006 Japan PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 21; in money - 19; Top-10 finishes - 9; scoring average - 70.13 (ranked 5th); money Yen75,710,084 or $645,990 (ranked 9th); winner, Suntory Open.
2011 Notes: Made 14 of 18 cuts and had a personal-best five top-10 finishes. Made second career start at Tour Championship. Finished 30th in final FedExCup standings and 32nd on the money list. Playing in his second Presidents Cup for the International team, he posted a 1-3-0 record.
2012 Notes: Had only one top-25 finish all year, none in stroke play (a first-round victory got him a T-17th at the WGC-Accenture Match Play). His best in stroke play was a T-29th finish at the Shell Houston Open. Made 13 of 20 cuts and finished 127th in FedExCup standings (didn't qualify) and 153rd on the money list. Finished 2nd at the Nanshan China Masters, and T-3rd at the Kolon Korea Open.
2013 Notes: Played in 19 events on the PGA Tour, best finish a T-18th at the Honda Classic. Has not had a top-10 finish on the PGA Tour since his T-6th at the 2011 Barclays. Finished the year 172nd in the FedExCup standings and 174th on the money list. In late September on the Japan Golf Tour, shot weekend rounds of 69-69 to finish 3rd at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open, two shots behind winner Masahiro Kawamura.
2014 Notes: Made just 12 cuts in 28 PGA Tour starts and, at No. 167 in the FedExCup standings, missed the playoffs for a third consecutive year. After nine missed cuts and a disqualification from the Barracuda Championship ended his season on a high note by posting four consecutive rounds in the 60s at the Wyndham Championship (T-45th). Attempted to regain his exempt status for the 2014-15 PGA Tour Season via the Web.com Tour Finals but was unsuccessful. After a T-41st (Hotel Fitness Championship) and a 73rd-place finish (Chiquita Classic), missed the final two cuts of the season.
2015 Notes: Played in the European Tour's Shenzhen International in China in mid-April, strung together weekend rounds of 66-69 to go with his opening 72-71 to finish T-4th with six others, two shots out of the Kiradech Aphibarnrat-Hao Tong Li playoff that Aphibarnrat won. A week later, again lingered near the lead all week at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters. Opened with a 1-over 73 then parlayed under-par rounds of 71-69-71 (5-under) into a T-5th finish with Thitiphun Chuayprakong, three shots out of the Lee Westwood-Chapchai Nirat playoff that Westwood won. Had a solid showing at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in July. Had a pair of 67s in the second and final rounds to T-10th with six others, four shots behind winner Rickie Fowler at Gullane GC. Also had a T-5th at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters on the Asian Tour. In 18 starts on the European Tour finished 82nd in the Race to Dubai with earnings of euro409,162. Only played three times on the PGA Tour, T-44th a the Honda Classic and T-48th at the PGA Championship, and T-64th at the Puerto Rico Open. At the end of the year became the first Major champion to compete at European Tour Qualifying School in 2016, and claimed the 14th card at Final Stage to regain his European Tour playing rights.
2016 Notes: Played in 20 events with 18 of those starts coming on the European Tour. He made 8 cuts his best finish was T-12th at the BMW PGA Championship. Was 137th in the Race to Dubai with euro165,846 in earnings.
2017 Notes: Again played most of his golf on the European Tour with 7 starts, had one top-ten finish, T-6th at the Volvo China Open. Was 180th in the Race to Dubai.
2018 Notes: Started his year playing in the Handa New Zealand Open finishing T-38th. After that returned to the Japan Golf Tour where he had played full-time between 2002 and 2006.
2018 Japan PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments Entered - 17; In Money - 15; Top-10 Finishes - 3; Scoring Average - 70.53 (Rank 7th); Money - Yen63,650,559 ($570,397) (Rank 12th); Best Finish Winner The Crowns
2019 Japan PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments Entered - 22; In Money - 15; Top-10 Finishes - 3; Scoring Average - 71.75 (Rank 23rd); Money - Yen42,888,013 ($391,727) (Rank 23rd); Best Finish 3rd Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters.
2019 Notes: Was T-33rd in the Sony Open in Hawaii. Missed the cut at the New Zealand Open, T-4th at the Asia-Pacific Open Golf, and missed the cut at the PGA Championship.
2020 Notes: Played in seven events on the Korean Tour, best finish T-9th at the Genesis Championship. Because he was in Korea was unable to play in the PGA Championship.
2021 Notes: Missed the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii, on the Korn Ferry withdrew after a first-round 75 at the Veritex Bank Championship, and missed the cut at the Simmons Bank Open. Was disqualified at the PGA Championship. Played a full schedule on the Golf Tour of Japan.
2021 Japan PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments Entered - 12; In Money - 7; Top-10 Finishes - 1; Scoring Average - 72.00 (Rank 68th); Money - Yen8,450,771 ($66,836) (Rank 81st); Best Finish 7th at the Casio World Open.
2022 Notes: Played in 25 PGA Tour Champions events with three top-ten finishes. Was 34th on the Schwab rankings and 29th on the money list with $711,596 in earnings. Turned 50 in January and played in his first Champions Tour event at the Chubb Classic finishing T-12th. He missed the cut in the PGA Championship at Southern Hills. Earned his first top-10 on PGA Tour Champions at The Senior Open Championshipin his 13th start. After opening with 73, he closed with 65-68-69 to finish T-10th. At the Ascension Charity Classic finished 2nd for his best result of the 2022 season. Posted 68-66-66, his best 54-hole score on PGA Tour Champions this season and was a shot back of winner Padraig Harrington. The next week was T-7th at the Sanford International. Ended the season T-30th at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
2023 Notes: Was T-10th at the Chubb Classic and Mitsubishi Electric Classic.