She has been on the LPGA Tour since 2008 but Amy Yang, the 34-year-old Korean veteran, still battles nerves before rounds.
On Sunday in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, Yang was about to play the biggest round of her career. She held a two-stroke lead entering the final round at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the third major tournament of the season. She was looking for her first major title in her 75th attempt.
Butterflies were all over inside Yang’s stomach, and the player calmed them down with self-talk throughout the round. It helped her shoot a solid round of even-par 72 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington, enough for a three-shot victory for her maiden major victory.
“I was so nervous beginning of the day, even night before, and I told Jan (Meierling, her caddie) on the 18th fairway, ‘This has been the longest 토토 18 holes I ever played in my career,'” Yang said. “I was that much stressed and felt pressure out there. But I think I managed to stay positive.”
Yang, whose Korean given name is Hee-young, also sensed some self-doubt creeping in. With each passing major without a win, Yang said she began to wonder whether she would ever win a major before she retired.
A little pep talk to herself paid off Sunday.