European Tour Insider: Yang, Kim big attractions in Korea

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Y.E. Yang, last year's PGA Championship winner, is getting used to being the center of attention.

Y.E. Yang is getting increasingly used to being the center of attention. It's not something he particularly enjoys, but as the reigning PGA champion, it goes with the territory.

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The unassuming 38-year-old Korean is at home this week. He shares top billing at the Ballantine's Championship with Ernie Els and Anthony Kim. After his victory in the latest European Tour event -- the Volvo China Open in Suzhou -- and returning to his birthplace in Jeju, he anticipates a lot of demands on his time.

Yang has found success throughout his career -- now with 10 titles -- but it's fair to say the wider world first took notice when he defeated Tiger Woods to claim the HSBC Champions in Shanghai in 2007.

He took up his European Tour card, but without featuring on many leaderboards, and he was often a peripheral figure at events, sitting in the shadows, say, at gala dinners.

Yet he graduated to the PGA TOUR and won last year's Honda Classic before securing his biggest triumph at Hazeltine, becoming the first Asian player to win a major.

Several major winners have struggled to win again in the aftermath of such acclaim. Yang -- who's still announced by the full Yang Yong-eun in his home country -- feels he'd already learned a lesson.

"You know, I've already experienced that kind of psychological slump after the HSBC Champions win," he said after winning by two strokes in China. "I tried a bit too hard. Forced myself, and put a lot pressure on myself, and struggled on the European Tour.

"After last year, I didn't really force myself. I just told myself it would all come back in due time."

Besides, Yang joked -- or at least I think it was said tongue-in-cheek -- that the real pressure comes from meeting the expectations of his wife and family.

He comes across as a very proud family man, though he's determined to go his own way at events for the time being, because his youngest son is a "menace" who wouldn't be able to keep still on the flights between tournaments.

AK IN KOREA

Anthony Kim has returned to his parents' homeland to play this week, as well.

The young American lets his emotions show and voices his opinions more than the majority of Korean players would. As a result, A.K. has received some criticism in the country of his ancestors.

He played the Ballantine's Championship in 2008, but opted to bypass the event last season. Now he's back, and at the age of 24, and on the back of a win in Houston and a tremendous performance at the Masters, there is more maturity on show.

That's sure to go down well at the windswept Pinx Golf Club in Jeju -- as indeed has his ability to speak more of his parents' language, having rounded off a news conference with a little Korean speech.

KIM 753

Another Kim has been enjoying his time in the spotlight, and will look to attract further headlines at home.

Kim Do-hoon led the Volvo China Open at the half-way stage. The 21-year-old is a former Asian Games gold medalist, and has been touted as a potential future star in Korea.

The majority in the media center in Suzhou knew next to nothing about him. On the Thursday evening, he was traveling well and getting into contention from the last group of the day. His name would've been reported, but as an "also ran" behind Thongchai Jaidee (incidentally, the Thai is the defending champion in Korea).

However, there was a scoring anomaly. They don't often happen, and they very rarely have this effect, but Kim went from what we thought would be a 5-under 67 to a share of the lead with a 64. I don't know how an eagle and a birdie were left from his in-progress card, but it meant a mad scamper about the Jinji Lake clubhouse to find a player when we had no idea what he looked like.

A translator was also required, and it turned out he would need to embellish Kim's words, because the youngster is endearingly shy and unused to the attention. But as with Y. E. Yang getting used to plaudits, Kim will learn to deal with the attention.

Hasty research showed not only the gold medal, but a third place two weeks ago, followed by victory on the Korean Tour on his 21st birthday, and then the third successive week shooting a 64 when nearly overlooked in China.

Research also turned up that there are four Kim Do-hoon's playing golf, and when inputting names for the scoring system this Kim is known as Kim 753. Maybe that's why there was the misleading score.

Kim eventually claimed a solid top-10 finish. It was a remarkable rise to prominence, and maybe a talent to rival another Korean youngster Noh Seung-yul, the teenager who won the Maybank Malaysian Open earlier this term.

PAVIN PROWESS

Corey Pavin only just missed out on a top-10 in Suzhou, but he can claim bragging rights over his opposing Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie. The two contested two rounds together with Pavin 3 up.

They were guests of Volvo at the Matchplay in Spain last fall and were happy to take up a further invitation in China. They could not only be competitive, but settle a few more Cup issues prior to the contest in Wales in October.

The U.S. captain suggests the two may not meet again at a tournament prior to Celtic Manor. And both had to admit it was a little odd to meet in a country which can't compete in the Ryder Cup.

From Monty's perspective: "It is a bit surreal, really," he said "but at the same time, it's super that we're promoting the game of golf from two old golfing nations to a very new one in China."

Monty has said he'd like Welsh involvement in his team. He'll have noticed two players from the Principality were tied second behind Yang with another in fourth. Rhys Davies, Stephen Dodd and Jamie Donaldson all play down their chances of making the team, but Davies in particular -- after his win in Morocco -- could be knocking on the door, if the form continues.