Yang beats Woods in historic U.S. PGA win

(CNN) -- South Korea's Yang Yong Eun became the first Asian-born player to win a major golf championship, coming from behind to beat world number one Tiger Woods at the U.S. PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

Yang, 37, who shot two-under-par 70 and finished the tournament at eight under -- three strokes better than Woods -- also became the first to defeat Woods at a major in which the American held a lead entering the last round.

Yang was aiming to repeat the good form that saw hin win the Honda Classic earlier this year, while Woods was seeking his 15th career major and record equaling fifth U.S. PGA title..

After three rounds Woods had a two-stroke lead and looked on course to maintain his perfect record of clinching victory when starting the final round at the top the leader-board.

But Yang, entering Sunday's final round tied for second, had drawn to even by the eighth hole after two bogeys by Woods. An eagle chip on the 14th hole gave Yang a one-stroke lead, and after both bogeyed the 17th, Yang sank a birdie putt on the final hole to seal the victory.

Woods bogeyed the 18th, giving him a 3 over par for the day and 5 under for the tournament.

Lee Westwood of England and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tied for third place with three under par. Watch discussion on significance of Yang's win »

Despite some of the best players in the game crumbling under the pressure of facing Woods in previous final-day showdowns for a title, Yang kept his cool to clinch the win.

"I wasn't that nervous because it's a game of golf," Yang told reporters. "It's not like ... you're fighting against Tiger and he's going to bite you or swing at you with his nine-iron.

"I knew the odds were against me. I tried to be the least nervous I have ever been and went for broke.

"The worst I could do was just lose to Tiger and go a few ranks down in the final scoreboard. Nobody is going to be really disappointed that I lose. So I really had nothing much at stake and that's how I played it," Yang added.

"I guess the fearlessness comes from the fact that I'm doing my dream job. I also have this mentality where I try my best and leave no regrets. If it doesn't work out, that's that ... I guess if I do have courage, that's where it comes from," Yang concluded.

World number one Woods heaped praise on his victorious opponent, who was ranked 110th in the world before the event, when speaking to reporters after the day's play.

"He went out there and executed his game plan. He was driving the ball beautifully, hitting his irons in the correct spots. He didn't make a lot of putts but he was doing what you have to do," Woods said.

Woods' form has resulted in 2009 becoming the first year since 2004 that he has not won a major title.

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