Y.E. Yang stuns Tiger Woods at PGA Championship

CHASKA, MINN. — Entering the final round at Hazeltine National, Tiger Woods held a two-shot lead over Y.E. Yang:

When the final book on Tiger Woods is written, these two names will need to be highlighted: Ed Fiori, Y.E. Yang.

Not Sergio Garcia. Not Phil Mickelson. Not Ernie Els. At least not yet.

Fiori came from behind to beat Woods on the final day at the 1996 Quad City Classic, and Yang did the unthinkable Sunday, overtaking Woods in the final round of a major, the PGA Championship.

Wearing all white, the ghost-like figure shot a two-under-par 70 to become the first player from Asia to win a men's major and the first to beat Woods after he had a 54-hole lead in a major. Woods had been 14 for 14 as a closer in majors.

Consider this: Yang started the day as a 20-1 underdog, according to an online sports wagering site. Woods was a 2-9 favorite, roughly the same as Secretariat in his prime against your pet cocker spaniel.

"You never know in life," Yang said through his interpreter, Ryan Park.

No, you don't. Woods led or was tied atop the leaderboard until the 14th hole, a drivable par four of 301 yards. Yang knocked in his eagle chip from some 80 feet to take the lead.

He never relinquished it. Woods put himself in position to make birdies at Hazeltine National but couldn't buy one on the greens.

He spent much of the round muttering to himself in frustration. He had only three one-putts.

"I made absolutely nothing," he said. "I had a terrible day on the greens. . . . I hit the ball great off the tee, hit my irons well. I did everything I needed to do except get the ball in the hole."

In shooting a three-over 75, Woods made just two birdies. He didn't really crack a smile until he graciously congratulated Yang on the 18th green.

"Y.E. hit it great all day," Woods said. "It was a fun battle."

The tournament was still in doubt until Yang's three-hybrid approach on 18.

With 210 yards to the pin from the first cut of rough, he fired at the flag, and his ball settled eight feet from the cup.

Woods, trailing by one, could have chipped in for a birdie that would have forced Yang to make his putt.

Yang, the 37-year-old native of South Korea, doesn't speak much English. But despite a limited vocabulary, his politeness comes across.

Asked in English to describe his emotions at that moment, he replied: "I think: 'Tiger, miss the chip-in, please.' "