US Amateur Championship: Teenage Korean Creates History


Tulsa, Oklahoma (August 30): A fortnight after Yang Yong-eun became the first Asian male to win one of golf's Major championships, another Korean was making waves. Defying all expectations, Byeong-Hun 'Ben' An, a 17-year-old Korea native and high school senior at Bradenton Prep, pulled off an unlikely victory in the 36-hole final of the US Amateur at Southern Hills. In defeating 21-year-old Ben Martin 7 and 5, An became the youngest player to win the US Amateur. Last year’s champion, Danny Lee – 18 years, one month old at the time – broke Tiger Woods’ record to become the youngest champion. An turns 18 on September 17.

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World Cup Qualifier: Pakistanis Celebrating Mission Improbable


Petaling Jaya (August 29): Muhammad Shabbir and Muhammad Munir etched their names into golf's history books when they guided Pakistan to their first Omega Mission Hills World Cup after finishing in the top-three at the Asian Qualifier on Saturday. The unheralded Pakistani duo shot a superb three-under-par 68 in the final round foursomes at Seri Selangor Golf Club to finish third behind winners Singapore, represented by Lam Chih Bing and Mardan Mamat, and the Philippines pair of Mars Pucay and Angelo Que. Lam and Mardan secured their fourth World Cup appearance together after claiming a one-stroke victory following a closing 72 for a four-day total of 15-under-par 269 while Que and Pucay also signed off with a 72 to finish one back.

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Fatigued Yang Living Large As PGA Champion


New York (August 28): 'From Jeju Island, South Korea, the 2009 PGA Championship winner, YE Yang'. Oh how improbable, how laughable that sounded just a few short weeks ago. And yet at 8:10 am on Thursday, at the 10th tee, for the first time Yang was introduced as a Major champion. Life has changed for the 37-year-old Korean. A day before, Yang was mobbed on the practice tee by Asian journalists. They snapped pictures, shot video, and peppered him with questions in his native Korean. An SBS (Seoul Broadcasting Systems) reporter asked Padraig Harrington to make sense of Yang’s win.

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Finnair Masters: Thai Teenagers Aiming To Fly High In Helsinki


Helsinki (August 27): Thai teenagers Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn return to the spotlight when they line-up in this week's Finnair Masters. Fresh from leading her country to victory in the Santi Cup Southeast Asian team amateur tournament on home soil last week, 15-year-old Moriya and her 13-year-old sister are looking forward to testing their skills against the professionals on the Ladies European Tour (LET). Moriya, who speaks a little English, said that the duo have improved their mental attitude since playing in last year’s Finnish tournament. “Our attitude to the game has become more relaxed,” said Moriya, adding that the sisters’ tournament schedule remains busy but they study their school work for at least four hours a day, accompanied by their parents and a journalist from the Thai Ministry of Education.

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Vijay Excited At Belated Return To Australian Shores


Victoria (August 27): When it comes to world-class golfers, Vijay Singh is a name synonymous with success. The good news for Australian golf fans is that the three-time Major champion is the latest big name to have signed on to play the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola from December 10-13. Singh, the current world number 13, will return to Australian shores for the first time since he was part of the victorious International Team that claimed the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne in 1998. Winner of 34 US PGA Tour events and with a further 22 international victories to his name, the 46-year-old Fijian, widely known for his incredible work ethic, will line-up at the PGA of Australia’s flagship event for the first time.

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Asia's Major Man Turns Attentions To FedEx Cup Play-Offs


Singapore (August 25): Yang Yong-eun will be looking to haul himself further up the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) when the US PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Play-offs commence this week. On the back of his victory in the PGA Championship a fortnight ago, the 37-year-old Korean leapt 80 spots in the ranking to 34th, making him the leading Asian player in the standings. As Asia’s first male Major champion, Yang knows he will now find himself in the spotlight wherever he plays, starting with The Barclays this week, the first event in the season-ending PGA Tour play-offs.

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