Who is Amy Yang? (part 2)
Amy Yang, who is currently leading the LPGA Tour Championship, turned professional in 2006. With her amateur years discussed in the previous part, more light will be put on Yang, as a professional golfer in the following article.
Since Amy turned professional, while she was completing her high school, she played LET events that were on or around her school holidays. Keeping education a top priority as well, Amy planned to graduate from Robina High School.
Yang’s professional triumph was immediate. Her first event was the Dubai Ladies Masters in late October. Despite many top golfers playing, Yang finished fourth. For her decent finish behind talented golfers, such as Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb and Heen Afredsson, she cashed in more than $40,000 Australian dollars.
For her next tournament, Yang finished third place at the Mauritius Open. Amy continued with professional events in 2007, including the US Women’s Open. In that tournament, Yang finished fiftieth, making it her best major finish so far.
In late 2007, she attempted to qualify for the LPGA at Q-school, but she barely managed to attain a non-exempt status. The way things were it appeared as if she was going to focus more on the European Tour.
Amy planned on moving to Florida in 2008. The last event she participated in in Australia was the 2008 Australian Ladies Open and the ANZ Ladies Masters. In both these events Yang managed to secure a top ten finish.
Finally being able to play on the LPGA in 2008, she started off, really well. Yang achieved a top ten finish in her first event on the LPGA, which was the SBS Open. Sometime later, she tied for ninth place at the Hana Bank Kolon Championship. This was the first time that Yang played professionally, in her homeland.
Seeing how talented and accomplished the star was, Yang received a lot of appreciation from the crowd at the Championship.
Even though she played well, these finishes weren’t sufficient for her to get an exempt card. Returning to Q-school, she played remarkably and hence earned full playing privileges for 2009. Her 2009 wasn’t bad but it appeared as if she didn’t live up to the potential she had. Yang only managed two top ten finishes, with one being at the LPGA Championship. Due to her performance in 2009, she finished 45th on the money list and kept her playing privileges for 2010.
Yang did better on the European Tour rather than on the LPGA. Being the only Korean on the Tour, Yang got special attention, which most probably, made her work harder.
Week after week, Yang made top ten finishes. Her brilliance had even led to her finish in the top five many times.
In the summer of 2008 she played very well at the Swiss Open. Despite her efforts, Yang lost to the Norwegian, Suzann Pettersen. A second place finish was still quite an achievement. Just a week later, she really set the course on fire when she posted a 63 and won by four shots.
Yang had to defeat very accomplished players, such as the American Michelle Wie to attain her first European Tour Title. This win hoisted Amy to the top of the tour’s money list. Earning so much, Amy made sure to give back by donating her entire first place winnings to the affected people of the Sichuan earthquake in China.
Amy attained her second title by winning the Scandinavian TPC, hosted by Annika Sorenstam. With that being Sorenstam’s last pro event in her homeland, Amy captured the spotlight, by taking the title.
Looking at her history, it appears that Amy Yang is used to outplaying, big stars. She emerged out of nowhere at the ANZ Ladies Masters, and is doing the same thing in Florida right now. Despite top ranked players competing in the season finale of the 2010 season, Yang has held the lead for two rounds. With the way she is going, Amy is hoping to win the championship and attain her first LPGA title.
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