Amy Yang
Amy Yang (Korean: 양희영; born July 28, 1989) is a South Korean professional golfer who competes on the LPGA Tour.[1][2] She turned professional in 2006 at age 17 after winning the ANZ Ladies Masters as an amateur, which earned her an exemption to the Ladies European Tour, and joined the LPGA Tour in 2008.[3][2] Yang has secured six LPGA Tour victories, including her first major championship at the 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, where she finished three strokes ahead at seven-under par.[2][3] A two-time Olympian representing South Korea, she tied for fourth place in the women's golf event at both the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics.[2][4] Born in Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, Yang began playing golf at age 10 and moved with her family to the Gold Coast of Australia at 15 to further her development.[1][5] Standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall, she resides in Orlando, Florida, and enjoys shopping, watching movies, and spending time with friends in her leisure time.[3][1] Her early success on international circuits included three wins on the Ladies European Tour and two on the KLPGA Tour before establishing herself on the LPGA.[3][2] Throughout her LPGA career, Yang has achieved consistent top finishes, including runner-up placements at the 2012 and 2015 U.S. Women's Opens, and reached a career-high world ranking of No. 3 in the summer of 2024.[1][5] In 2023, she won the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship and claimed the Race to the CME Globe title, highlighting her strong performance in high-stakes events.[2] Additionally, she contributed to South Korea's victory at the 2016 UL International Crown team event.[2] By November 2025, Yang continues to compete actively, with 14 cuts made in 19 starts during the 2025 season and two top-25 finishes.[6]Early life and amateur career
Early life
Amy Yang, born Yang Hee-young on July 28, 1989, in Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, grew up in an athletic family that shaped her early interests in sports.[7] Her father, Joon Mo Yang (known as James), was a member of the South Korean national canoe team, while her mother, Sun Hee Yang (known as Sunny), was a champion javelin thrower.[7] This sporting environment influenced Yang from a young age, as she initially aspired to pursue swimming but was drawn to golf after discovering a nearby driving range in her community.[8] Yang began playing golf at the age of 10 in South Korea, crediting her parents as the primary influences in her introduction to the sport and her subsequent dedication to it.[1] Her early training took place in South Korea, where she developed foundational skills amid a supportive family backdrop that emphasized athletic discipline and perseverance.[1] At age 15, Yang moved with her family to the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, seeking better training opportunities and resources to advance her golf development.[1] She settled in the region and completed her high school education at Robina State High School from 2005 to 2007, balancing studies with her growing involvement in the sport.[9] This relocation marked a pivotal shift, allowing her to immerse herself in a more competitive golf environment before transitioning to amateur competitions.[1]Amateur achievements
Amy Yang achieved significant success in her amateur golf career, particularly after relocating to Australia at age 15 to further her development.[2] In 2005, at the age of 15, Yang won the Queensland Amateur Championship, becoming the youngest winner in the event's history.[1][10] She also won the New Zealand Women's Amateur Championship that year.[11] Her most prominent amateur accomplishment came in 2006 when, still competing as an amateur, she won the ANZ Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour. At 16 years and 192 days old, Yang became the youngest winner in LET history at the time, a record later surpassed.[2][5] Yang led after the second and third rounds with scores of 69, 66, and 70, reaching 11-under-par through 54 holes. In the final round, she shot another 70 to finish at 13-under-par 275, forcing a playoff with Catherine Cartwright after a 23-foot birdie putt on the 18th. Yang secured the victory by birdieing the first playoff hole.[12][13][14] Other notable results included earning the Smyth Salver as the low amateur at the 2006 Women's British Open, where she finished 60th.[15][16] These successes earned her invitations to major events and a special exemption to join the LET. Following her ANZ victory, Yang turned professional in late 2006 at age 17.[2]Professional career
LPGA Tour entry and initial seasons
Yang turned professional in 2006 at the age of 16, shortly after her amateur victory at the 2006 ANZ Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour (LET), which earned her a special exemption to join the tour as its youngest member.[2] She initially competed on both the LET and the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) circuits, securing two wins on the KLPGA and three on the LET over the early years of her career.[2] In late 2007, Yang tied for 54th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, earning conditional status for the 2008 season and making her LPGA debut at age 18.[2] Limited to seven events that rookie year due to her status, she made five cuts with a best finish of T9 at the Hana Bank Championship, finishing 129th on the money list with $60,834 in earnings.[2] Returning to Qualifying School at the end of 2008, she finished runner-up to secure full playing status for 2009.[2] Yang's 2009 season marked her first full campaign on the LPGA Tour, where she competed in 23 events, made 19 cuts, and achieved a best finish of T3 at the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge, earning $302,816 and placing 45th on the money list.[2] From 2009 through 2012, she demonstrated steady improvement with consistent top-20 results across multiple tournaments, including several top-10 finishes each year, though she remained winless on the tour during this period.[1] Notable performances included a runner-up finish at the 2012 U.S. Women's Open, highlighting her growing contention in major events despite early career adjustments to the tour's competitive demands.[5]Rise to prominence and multiple wins
Amy Yang's breakthrough on the LPGA Tour came in 2013 at the LPGA KEB HanaBank Championship in her native South Korea, where she secured her first professional victory by birdieing the first playoff hole to defeat Hee Kyung Seo after both finished at 9-under par.[17] This win, her maiden LPGA title after five seasons on the tour since joining in 2008, marked a significant milestone that boosted her confidence and elevated her profile, leading to six top-10 finishes that year and 18th place on the money list with earnings of $719,481.[2] Building on this momentum from her initial LPGA seasons, Yang established herself as a dominant force at the Honda LPGA Thailand, winning the event three times in 2015, 2017, and 2019. In 2015, she closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 15-under 273, edging out Mirim Lee, Yani Tseng, and Stacy Lewis by two strokes for her second career LPGA title.[18] She repeated in 2017 with a tournament-record 22-under 266, winning by five strokes after a bogey-free final-round 68 that showcased her precision on the Siam Country Club layout. Yang completed her Thailand hat-trick in 2019, firing a final-round 65 to reach 22-under 266 and defeat Ha Na Lee by one stroke, solidifying her reputation for excelling in the early-season Asian swing.[19] Yang's consistency peaked in the late 2010s, highlighted by her best money list finish of sixth in 2015 with 10 top-10 results, and she maintained strong contention through 2019 with sixth place on the leaderboard that year.[2] Her career resilience was evident in 2023, when she captured her fifth LPGA victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, birdieing the final two holes for a 6-under 66 to win by four strokes over Jin Young Ko at 27-under par, clinching the season-long Race to the CME Globe title and a $2 million bonus.[20] This triumph propelled her to second on the 2023 money list with $3,165,834 in earnings, underscoring her sustained excellence.[2] Throughout her career up to 2023, Yang amassed over 80 top-10 finishes, reflecting her reliable ball-striking and putting that positioned her as a perennial contender on the tour.[21]Major championship victory and 2025 season
In June 2024, Amy Yang secured her first major championship title at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship held at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington.[22] She finished the tournament at 7-under-par 281, highlighted by rounds of 70-68-71-72, to claim a three-shot victory over runners-up Jin Young Ko, Lilia Vu, and Miyu Yamashita.[23] At age 34, Yang became the oldest first-time major winner on the LPGA Tour since Angela Stanford in 2018, achieving this milestone in her 75th major appearance.[24] The victory not only marked a career-defining moment but also propelled Yang into the final qualification spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she went on to finish tied for fourth at 6-under-par 282.[25][26] Entering the 2025 season as the defending champion, Yang competed in 19 events through November 17, 2025, maintaining consistency without securing a win, making 14 cuts in 19 starts with no top-10 finishes. Notable performances included a tie for 11th at the Honda LPGA Thailand, a tie for 21st at the HSBC Women's World Championship, a tie for 49th at the LOTTE Championship, and a tie for 38th at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.[6] Her season earnings reached approximately $269,300, with multiple top-25 finishes underscoring her sustained competitiveness. As of November 2025, Yang held the 64th position in the Rolex Women's World Golf Ranking, reflecting her steady presence among the tour's elite.[27][6]Professional wins
LPGA Tour wins
Amy Yang has secured six victories on the LPGA Tour, including one major championship. Her wins span from 2013 to 2024, showcasing her consistency in high-stakes events, particularly in Asia and at season-ending tournaments.| No. | Date | Tournament | Venue | Winning Score | To Par | Margin of Victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 18–20, 2013 | LPGA KEB HanaBank Championship | Sky 72 Golf Club (Ocean Course), Incheon, South Korea | 69-69-69=207 | −9 | Playoff | Hee Kyung Seo (South Korea) |
| 2 | Feb 26–Mar 1, 2015 | Honda LPGA Thailand | Siam Country Club (Pattaya Old Course), Chonburi, Thailand | 67-66-71-69=273 | −15 | 2 strokes | Stacy Lewis (United States), Mirim Lee (South Korea), Yani Tseng (Taiwan) |
| 3 | Feb 23–26, 2017 | Honda LPGA Thailand (2) | Siam Country Club (Pattaya Old Course), Chonburi, Thailand | 66-65-67-68=266 | −22 | 5 strokes | Charley Hull (England) |
| 4 | Feb 21–24, 2019 | Honda LPGA Thailand (3) | Siam Country Club (Pattaya Old Course), Chonburi, Thailand | 67-68-66-65=266 | −22 | 1 stroke | Minjee Lee (Australia) |
| 5 | Nov 16–19, 2023 | CME Group Tour Championship | Tiburón Golf Club (Gold Course), Naples, Florida | 68-63-64-66=261 | −27 | 3 strokes | Nelly Korda (United States), Brooke M. Henderson (Canada) |
| 6 | Jun 20–23, 2024 | KPMG Women's PGA Championship | Sahalee Country Club, Sammamish, Washington | 70-68-71-72=281 | −7 | 3 strokes | Ko Jin-young (South Korea) |
International tour wins
Amy Yang's international tour wins on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and Korean LPGA (KLPGA) came early in her professional career, showcasing her rapid rise and providing key momentum for her transition to the LPGA Tour. These victories, totaling four non-LPGA professional triumphs, highlighted her adaptability across circuits and contributed to her overall record of 10 professional wins.[2][5] Her first professional victory arrived at the 2008 Hypo Vereinsbank Ladies German Open, where the 18-year-old Yang carded a course-record 9-under 63 in the third round to take a five-stroke lead into the final day. She closed with a 5-under 67 to finish at 13-under par overall, winning by four strokes and earning €37,500. This breakthrough win, just months after turning pro, established her as a force on the LET and boosted her confidence for future competitions.[28][29][30] Yang followed up later that season with a dominant performance at the 2008 Scandinavian TPC hosted by Annika in Sweden, tying the course record with a stunning final-round 9-under 63 to win by six strokes at 14-under par 202. The €30,000 prize came in Annika Sorenstam's farewell event on home soil, where Yang's birdie-filled back nine overshadowed the retiring legend's T6 finish and underscored her emerging prowess in high-pressure settings.[31][32][33] Complementing these, Yang notched two KLPGA wins in 2006—her professional debut year—and 2007, that served as vital early boosts, enhancing her skills and visibility ahead of her LPGA qualifying efforts. These international achievements played a pivotal role in earning her LPGA Tour status for 2008.[2]Major championships
Major wins
Amy Yang secured her first and only major championship title at the 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, held at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington.[22] Entering the tournament with six prior LPGA Tour victories but no major wins, Yang posted steady scores across the four rounds: 2-under 70 in the first, 4-under 68 in the second, 1-under 71 in the third, and even-par 72 in the final, finishing at 7-under 281 for a three-stroke victory over runners-up Ko Jin-young and Lilia Vu.[23] This performance marked a breakthrough after 74 previous major starts without a win, including 12 top-five finishes such as runner-up results at the 2012 and 2015 U.S. Women's Opens and the 2015 ANA Inspiration.[1] Yang's path to victory was characterized by consistent ball-striking and clutch putting on Sahalee's demanding layout, where she ranked first in strokes gained: approach the green.[23] She took a two-shot lead after the third round with a 71, then extended it early in the final round by birdieing the first hole and chipping in from 23 yards off the green for birdie on the par-3 fifth.[23] Additional birdies followed on the eighth (from seven feet), 11th, and 13th holes, pushing her lead to seven shots at the 15th and reaching 10-under for the tournament.[23] On the back nine, these birdies on 11 and 13 proved pivotal, allowing her to maintain control despite mounting pressure from challengers like Allisen Corpuz and Lauren Coughlin.[34] The final stretch tested Yang's resilience, as she bogeyed the 16th after a missed green and suffered a double bogey on the 17th when her tee shot found the lake, but she steadied with a 10-foot par save on the 18th to close out the win.[23] This victory earned her $1.56 million from the $10.4 million purse, the largest first-place check of her career and a record for the event.[35] At age 34, Yang became the oldest first-time major winner on the LPGA Tour since Angela Stanford in 2018, solidifying her legacy as a resilient competitor who persevered through near-misses to claim South Korea's first major title since Jeongeun Lee6's 2023 Women's British Open victory.[23] The win also qualified her for the 2024 Paris Olympics, enhancing her international profile and inspiring a new generation of Korean golfers.[23]Results timeline
| Year | Chevron Championship | Women's PGA Championship | U.S. Women's Open | Women's British Open | The Evian Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | T30 | CUT | CUT | T22 | — |
| 2009 | T19 | T18 | CUT | T7 | — |
| 2010 | T24 | T32 | T24 | CUT | — |
| 2011 | CUT | T10 | T5 | CUT | — |
| 2012 | T4 | T5 | 2 | CUT | — |
| 2013 | T21 | T9 | T6 | T10 | T22 |
| 2014 | T7 | T13 | T9 | T21 | CUT |
| 2015 | T2 | T21 | 2 | T17 | T5 |
| 2016 | T25 | T10 | T16 | T6 | T9 |
| 2017 | T16 | T58 | CUT | T10 | T12 |
| 2018 | T29 | CUT | T6 | T14 | T4 |
| 2019 | T16 | T13 | T21 | T36 | T7 |
| 2020 | CUT | T4 | T7 | T8 | T10 |
| 2021 | CUT | T3 | CUT | CUT | T18 |
| 2022 | T7 | T8 | T35 | T14 | T6 |
| 2023 | T4 | T8 | T10 | T4 | CUT |
| 2024 | T10 | 1 | T20 | T37 | T5 |
| 2025 | T52 | CUT | T36 | T50 | T56 |