Posted on 08/28/2009 9:41:20 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
PGA Champ Yang Pledges Round of Golf With Bush
AUGUST 28, 2009 03:40
Y.E. Yang, the first Asian-born golfer to win a major PGA title, said yesterday that he promised to play a round of golf with former U.S. President George W. Bush.
Yang was speaking to a news conference at the Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey, just a day before the FedEx Cup playoff opener at The Barclays.
He said that when he went to Carlsbad in Southern California to visit the headquarters of his sponsor TaylorMade last week, he met Bush and chatted with him for 30 minutes.
Yang said Bush talked of his relationship with Korean President Lee Myung-bak and his visit to Jeju Island, Yang’s hometown, to make a speech.
“We sort of promised to play a round of golf when our schedules were OK,” Yang said. “And I told him that I’d be willing to skip a tournament or two if he were willing to play golf with me. So I’m looking forward to that as well.”
Bush and Yang both recently moved to Dallas.
On how he maintained his composure while playing against Tiger Woods for the PGA Championship, Yang said, “I played the game thinking that I’d swing my shots because I had nothing to lose even if Woods beat me. If I face Woods again (at The Barclays), I’ll stay cool and just do my best in shooting.”
The hour-long news conference was conducted half in Korean and half in English, with some 50 reporters both Korean and non-Korean attending.
As Yang walked off to a driving range for training, 30 to 40 fans asked him for his autograph, showing his meteoric rise to stardom. American fans also cheered for him, calling him a “nice champion” and asking him to beat Woods again.
While Yang was signing autographs, Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who won this year’s Master’s, came to shake the Korean’s hand and congratulate him for winning a major.
Padraig Harrington told Korean journalists that Yang is good enough to beat Woods.
Fellow Korean golfer Charlie Wi said, “Yang has excellent mind control. His victory in a major championship made me confident, too.”
The following are excerpts from Yang’s news conference.
Question: How have things changed since you won the PGA Championship?
Yang: I was sorry that so few Korean journalists showed interest in me even as I competed in majors. I’ve now received a rush of interview requests. Before the victory, more than half of the American fans I met asked for my autograph but thought I was K.J. Choi. Now they call me Yang. American players have also recognized and congratulated me on the championship.
Question: What does the taegeukgi (Korean national flag) on your bag mean?
Yang: As PGA events are broadcast in dozens of countries around the world, I thought the flag could encourage Koreans living overseas while letting non-Koreans know about our national flag.
Question: How did you play against Tiger Woods with composure?
Yang: I’ve always tried to do my best in shooting with a comfortable mind. There is a saying that goes that it’s not over until you take off your gloves after the 18th hole. I just played and thought I’d play a game I wouldn’t regret afterwards even if I lost.
Question: When did you decide to compete in the President’s Cup?
Yang: Greg Norman called me to congratulate me a few days after the championship was over, asking me to participate in the Presidents Cup. I will try to play for the team since it’s the first Presidents Cup I’ll play in.”
Question: Is it true that you will attend Korea University in Seoul?
Yang: I’ve always wanted to go to university. I am seeking admission from Korea University.
Question: Do you feel uncomfortable about being unable to speak English?
Yang: I can communicate with my caddie on the green. I don’t speak good English but that doesn’t make me uncomfortable. I have no plan to take English lessons. I’m a professional golfer. Wouldn’t be better if I use my time to practice golf more?
The other guy is a pal of Obama’s.
Ping PGA Champ Yang Pledges Round of Golf With Bush (Y.E. Yang and Dubya budding golfing buddies?)
Just before Christmas, this reminds me of my unusual visit to Koreatown on Wilshire and went to this printing company that still used the old Kodak processing technique. The very first thing that every visitor to that shop will notice (pretty much the white elephant of the store) is the HUGE pic of Bush behind the counter.
lol does bush golf that well
K.J. Choi is a devout Christian. I doubt he likes Hussein.
Richard Nixon was the best golfer in the White House. He supposedly shot a legitimate 80. He was also a good bowler. G.W. Bush is pretty damn athletic. He rides mountain bikes on trails or he did.
Shame he was for amnesty and only went through the motions in his last year or two.
awesome
Dwight Eisenhower might have something to say about that.
Yeah, and don’t forget medicare part D.
Heh... Yang played a great final round and has a right to be proud to have defeated the No 1 golfer! I watched that tournament and was surprised at his cool under pressure. He deserves all of our congratulations and hope that he continues his golf career with gusto.
I do hope that he learns English soon though so we can hear his reactions first hand - heh... Don’t blame him though, just wanted to understand him better... He seems to have a bright future.
lol i liked W....but dont know why he was for amnesty.
I think Ike played a lot and was Arnie’s pal but Nixon shot in the 80s and had a 12 handicap.
http://www.beauproductions.com/golfswingsws/richardnixon/
Ike supposedly broke 80 on three occassions but had a 14-18 handicap.
http://beauproductions.com/golfswingsws/ike/index.html
If he truly broke 80 then he was pretty damn good.
PING....
And lookie here Clint, look who showed up......
Do you mean Tiger? I'm not sure what to think there. I don't think Tiger is liberal and I don't think he would support Obama's policies. But, I do think Tiger (due to his respect for his fathers' interests in promoting the advancement of blacks) might want to show "support" for Obama.
Last week, news agencies were rampant with the rumor that Obama and Tiger would play a round of golf together. Didn't happen. Where is the explanation? My thought - Obama's minions started the rumor, hoping that Tiger would jump on board. It would be easy to do, since Tiger would be in NJ and Obama in Martha's Vinyard. But, Tiger didn't take the bait. He is one sharp cookie!
Ok, I am now officially a Yang fan!!!! (when he isn’t one on one with Stewart)!
Wouldn’t it be great if all the major winners could set up a round with W - do it in honor of the Presidents Cup. Raise money for a charity! If it was only Lucas and Stewart (US) that would be fine. If it was the three US citizens, Lucas, Stewart and Yang (citizen?), how great would that be?!
Democrats buy golf shoes, too.
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