Y.E. Yang News & More

GOLF Golfer

7yY.E. Yang defeated Graeme McDowell 2 and 1 in the Hogan Bracket in the opening round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.

This was a rematch of last year’s third-round battle that Yang also won in the same bracket. Both golfers had a lead over the first five holes today before Yang regained it with birdies at the par-3 sixth and par-4 seventh holes, going 1-up. He padded it with a par to McDowell’s double bogey at the par-4 ninth. G-Mac won the par-3 12th but the duo halved the rest of the inward nine until Yang pured his approached at the par-4 17th and rolled in the four-footer for birdie and the victory. He advances to face the winner of Hunter Mahan v. Zach Johnson.

Y.E. Yang

GOLF Golfer

7yY.E. Yang returns to action for the first time since his T57 at the Masters at THE PLAYERS.

Yang has an impressive streak of six consecutive cuts made, but his best stroke-play result was a T29 at the Shell Houston Open. While he ranks 154th in ball-striking, he’s been able to rack up the paydays ranking seventh in Strokes Gained-Putting. He missed the cut in the 2011 PLAYERS.

Y.E. Yang

GOLF Golfer

7yY.E. Yang is listed in the published field of next week’s Farmers Insurance Open.

Yang has been out since withdrawing after four holes of the Dubai World Championship with a sore shoulder. (For the record, the Associated Press reported that the South Korean was bothered by a neck injury.) He’s cashed in all three starts at Torrey Pines but has yet to post a top 40.

Y.E. Yang

GOLF Golfer

7yY.E. Yang signed for a 2-over-par 38-36=74 after his opening round at Torrey Pines South at the Farmers Insurance Open.

We had Yang in our crosshairs due to his withdrawal last month in Dubai due to a shoulder injury. He was rusty in today’s return, hitting only 11 greens in regulation and managing just one birdie (at the par-5 18th). His lone highlight was a chip-in par from 10 yards at the fourth hole.

Y.E. Yang

GOLF Golfer

7yY.E. Yang withdrew during his opening round of the Dubai World Championship.

Yang’s manager, Ryan, alerted the golfer’s followers on Twitter that Yang was nursing a sore shoulder and was “considering retiring the tournament.” Shortly thereafter, Yang called it quits after just four holes. He was 1-over-par at the time. Later, Yang himself wrote the following on Twitter: “Its my first WD, and it doesn’t feel right. I just couldn’t bear with the pain. Never want to do this ever again. Sorry to those who lost $.” An Associated Press report cites that Yang has a neck injury. We’ll stick with the shoulder until Yang confirms otherwise.

Y.E. Yang

GOLF Golfer

7yY.E. Yang alerted his followers on Twitter that he is taking a day off due to injury.

Yang tweeted: “Injured my neck and shoulder. Trying to loosen up now. Not good feeling this way. No practice for me today.” It’s been that kind of year for the 2009 PGA champion. His only top 25 in a stroke-play event was in his native South Korea, and he’s slipped all the way to 79th in the world ranking.

Y.E. Yang

GOLF Golfer

7yY.E. Yang carded a 6-under-par 32-33=65 in his second round of the John Deere Classic to arrive at the midpoint in 9-under 133, four strokes off the 36-hole clubhouse lead.

Yang hit 13 greens in regulation today and converted eight birdies, four of which measuring longer than 11 feet. The longest of the set found the cup from 16'11" at the 16th hole. He’s needed just 51 putts for 36 holes, but he’s hit just 24 GIR.

Y.E. Yang

GOLF Golfer

7yY.E. Yang is listed in the published field of next week’s FedEx St. Jude Classic.

We still don’t know why he pulled out of this week’s Memorial as he didn’t add any details on Twitter following his note on Monday. He’s 0-for-2 at TPC Southwind and hasn’t recorded a top 25 in 10 stroke-play starts on the PGA TOUR this year.

Y.E. Yang

GOLF Golfer

7yY.E. Yang signed for a 4-over-par 36-38=74 following his opening round of the British Open.

Battling neck and shoulder discomfort, he split seven (of 14) fairways and hit 12 greens today, but managed only two birdies. What stings is that he also incurred six bogeys, including on both par 5s. There’s little reason to invest in the South Korean in any format right now. He’s done virtually nothing to warrant a roster spot all year.

Y.E. Yang

GOLF Golfer

7yY.E. Yang posted a 2-under-par 34-34=68 in his opening round of the FedEx St. Jude Classic to finish two strokes off the clubhouse lead.

Yang took last week off to recover from a neck injury sustained at Colonial. He returned with some gusto today, signing for what is his lowest aggregate in an opening round on the PGA TOUR all year. He hit 11 greens and offset two bogeys with four birdies, including conversions of 28'4", 14'4" and 15'10" at the 13th, 18th and first holes, respectively.