Yang recaptures historic form at St. Andrews

Yang Yong-Eun, the South Korean who became Asia's first major men's golf champion by winning last year's PGA Championship, showed top form Thursday in the first round of the British Open.

The 38-year-old from Seoul fired a bogey-free five-under par 67 to stand four strokes behind leader Rory McIlroy, the 21-year-old from Northern Ireland who fired the lowest first round in British Open history at the Old Course.

Yang missed the cut in three consecutive events prior to the Open but regained his confidence after practice on the eve of the tournament paid off.

"I had a major breakthrough in practice where I found my form after I had lost for a couple of months," Yang said. "I played like I hit it in the driving range. The impact was a bit slow before and I tried to quicken it a bit.

"Overall, it?s the same kind of swing that I had been using last year when I had my success. I think I have found it again."

That could spell trouble for the other 155 players. Yang outdueled world number one Tiger Woods down the back nine in the final round, becoming the first player to beat Woods at a major when the superstar led after 54 holes.

Yang finished level with Woods after opening and closing with birdies and adding others on the par-5 fifth and 14th and the par-4 12th.

"I could have played better. I missed two or three birdie chances," Yang said. "It?s one of the toughest Opens and it was good to have a clean sheet with no bogeys. It?s a good feeling to have going out in the first round."

Yang missed the cut when the Open was staged at St. Andrews in 2005 and also in 2007 at Carnoustie, so he took out an old putter to allow for slower greens on the Old Course and had just 30 putts after reaching 17 greens in regulation.

"I knew it would play better on slower greens," he said.

The boost at golf's birthplace lifts Yang's confidence entering his PGA Championship title defence next month at Whistling Straits.

"It's important," Yang said. "It's good to play better in the latter half of the year. I?ve not been playing that well and it helps to build some momentum for the PGA and other events. It?s always good to play well in a major."

Yang, who shared eighth at the Masters in April, mentored Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Noh Seung-yul and other younger Koreans in practice rounds.

"It?s easier to have fun out there as we speak the same language," Yang said. "As a big brother, I do feel obliged to take them under my wing and show them the ropes a bit.

"I also get to learn a few tricks especially playing with the younger kids who hit it so long these days. It kind of gives me a challenge when I get on a golf course, even in a practice round. It goes both ways."