Golfer Yang Credits Family for His Success

Golfer Y.E. Yang looked attentive to TV cameras in March when he won the Honda Classic for his first PGA Tour win. He also winked or used his fingers among other strange gestures, drawing attention from fans.

On his unusual behavior, the newly crowned PGA Championship winner said, “Those were for my wife.” When the camera focused on him after he birdied and had an excellent shot, he said he gestured to his wife, Park Joo-yeong, who was watching him on TV.

Yang, 37, wore white attire from top to bottom Monday when he became the first Asian-born player to claim a major PGA championship. His clothing was selected by none other than his wife.

Park watched her husband’s play on TV through the third round of the PGA Championship. In the final round, she went to the course to give him a white shirt and pants, saying he needed to counter Tiger Woods, who was wearing a red shirt. The color red symbolizes passion in Korea.

Yang presented his wife with his trophy, bursting into tears of joy.

The golfer is widely known for his tight-knit family. His familial affection grew stronger after they had to live in shoddy housing due to difficult finances after his marriage in 1999.

He wanted to quit golf many times but thought of his wife and three sons every time he struggled.

When his family moved from Palm Springs to Dallas two months ago, he chose a home about five minutes away from his sons’ school.

Park, who is also a good golfer with a personal best of 76, told The Dong-A Ilbo, “I promised myself that I’d always work toward the same goal as my husband. I never expected something this big would happen to us.”

Yang said, “I feel energetic only when I eat soybean paste soup and kimchi soup that my wife cooks.”

“I had many difficult times, but my wife has always stood by me. I regret having to leave my wife alone to rear our children because I travel extensively, and I might have given them a good present.”

kjs0123@donga.com