Yang returns home feeling like a champion
YE Yang’s latest European Tour triumph has put an extra spring in his step as he prepares to play in his home town Ballantine’s Championship this week..
"Ultimately I would like to put up a good show worthy of a Major winner." YE Yang
The Korean icon says it will be “something special” when he tees off in front of family and friends in the Parallel Media Group promoted €2.2 million showpiece at Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju.
Yang cruised to a two-shot victory in the China Open on Sunday, marking a welcome return to the winner’s circle after he became the first Asian to win a Major at last year’s PGA Championship.
“'Jeju is my home town where I grew up,” said Yang. “Going back is always fun and exciting and to do it as a champion is that much more sweet.
“Playing in front of my friends and family – like anyone else in professional sport – is something special. After my win last week I will feel really good for a few more weeks, not just this one.
“I guess there will be a few more people rooting for me and my main goal is to leave an impression with them and the sponsors who have invested so much in me. Ultimately, I would like to put up a good show worthy of a Major winner.”
Yang is in a rich vein of form with his China Open victory coming immediately after an impressive display at the Masters, where he finished joint eighth.
Yet he admitted the Shanghai win – his third European Tour title – was also a relief after the fanfare that greeted his historic PGA Championship triumph last August, when he famously beat world No.1 Tiger Woods in a thrilling final round duel.
“It is important for me,” he confirmed. “There were some doubters about my game. This win won’t abolish all those doubters but it will alleviate some of the pressure those doubters have put on me.
“There have been some expectations following that Major win. It feels good. I know I still have to work on my game, though.
“Last year, following the PGA Championship, I tried to continue the streak but it didn’t come naturally. However, this season I’ve had some good finishes and a top 10 in the Masters and now this wonderful win so I’m on the right track.”
Yang is joined in the Ballantine’s Championship, Korea's biggest golf tournament, by two other players in red hot form, Ernie Els and Anthony Kim.
Three-time Major winner and world No. 7 Els, signalled an impressive return to his best with a pair of victories on the PGA Tour in March at the WGC-CA Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Kim, born in California to Korean parents, won the Houston Open earlier this month – his third PGA Tour victory – and followed up with an excellent third place at the Masters and is relishing his return to Jeju.
“I'm so excited to see some Korean faces in the gallery and hopefully I can make them all proud. I'm very excited and honoured to be here in Korea, and I've been looking forward to coming back to this tournament for a long time. I want to thank Ballantine's for having me back.
“As far as my form is concerned, I've been scoring well. I'm pretty happy about how I'm playing, but mostly about how I'm chipping and putting. So if I can keep that up, I should be in good shape.
The trio will be joined at the Ballantine’s Championship by Swedish ace Henrik Stenson, who has six European Tour victories to his name and last year captured the biggest title of his career when he won The Players Championship on the PGA Tour by four shots.
In addition, the field includes the tournament’s first two winners – Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, who triumphed in 2008, and Thai ace Thongchai Jaidee.
The 2010 Ballantine’s Championship, which begins this Thursday (22 April), is once again co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Korea PGA.
