YE Yang Golfing ing Hong Kong

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Yang Yong Eun found himself back on familiar ground and among old, recognizable faces yesterday as soon as he stepped inside the Hong Kong Golf Club. Everything else was unfamiliar.

The star treatment, endless requests for interviews and appearances, large crowds on his tail, even the honorary Asian Tour membership were new for a soft-spoken man still getting accustomed to his stature as Asia’s first Major champion. All these seemed a world away from the last time he played at the UBS Hong Kong Open seven years ago, when he finished joint 61st and left as inconspicuously as he arrived.

“This is quite a change of fortunes,” the South Korean said. “It’s been quite a while since I played on the Asian Tour and it feels really good and I’m very thankful for the hospitality and treatment I’ve been given.”

His new-found fame has made Yang one of the biggest drawcards when the 51st edition of the city’s oldest professional sports event tees off today.

However, Yang admits his game has lagged behind his soaring popularity in recent weeks, his whirlwind schedule since an epic victory over Tiger Woods in the US PGA Championship taking a toll on his 37-year- old body.


“This is my ninth event since that win and I’ve been traveling almost around the world. I’m enjoying it but my body is not following my heart and my brain,” he said.

“It’s taking a toll on me but hopefully I can work through it. It seems like everything is so rush and I’ve got to sit back a bit and probably pa
ce myself.”

But Yang is confident his form will come around in time for him to carry Asian hopes against a field that includes world No4 Lee Westwood, world No13 Ian Poulter, rising star Rory McIlroy, two-time British Open winner Mark O’Meara and former champions Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

They will do battle on a short and old-fashioned par-70 course in Fan Ling that never fails to produce drama, none more memorable than Taiwanese Lin Wen-tang’s play-off win over McIlroy last year.

“It’s a course that requires you to put it in all the right spots,” said USPGA Tour regular Rory Sabbatini. “It’s like a game of chess where you have to get in the right position.”