Amy Yang Bio
Amy Yang, also known as Yang Hee-Young, is a South Korean professional golfer who competes on the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour. Born on July 28, 1989, in Ilsan, South Korea, she turned professional in 2006 and has built one of the most consistent careers of her generation. In 2024, Amy Yang captured her first major title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in her 75th major start.
Early Life and Background
Amy Yang was born on July 28, 1989, in Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. She grew up in a close-knit family alongside her parents and a younger brother, Steven. Her father, Joon Mo, known as James, and her mother, Sun Hee, known as Sunny, supported her early interest in sports and education. Standing 173 centimeters tall, Amy developed her athletic foundations during her childhood years in South Korea before the sport of golf captured her imagination.
Amy Yang began playing golf at the age of 10 in her home country. As a teenager, she spent long hours practicing the game, and her family quickly recognized her potential. The commitment required by the sport shaped her early years, building the discipline and patience that would later define her professional career.
Path to Golf
At the age of 15, Amy Yang moved with her family to the Gold Coast of Australia to pursue golf more seriously. The move gave her access to stronger competition and better training facilities. In 2005, she won the Queensland Amateur Championship, becoming the youngest winner ever of that event.
The following year, in 2006, Amy Yang won the ANZ Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour while still an amateur. At 16 years and 192 days old, she became the youngest winner in LET history, a record that stood for more than a decade. The LET offered her a special three-year membership exemption beginning in 2006, requiring that she travel with her parents until she turned 18.
Amy Yang Career
Early Career (2006-2008)
Amy Yang turned professional in 2006 following her breakthrough amateur victories. She recorded four top-20 finishes on the Ladies European Tour in 2007 while still attending high school. Her early career also included earning conditional status on the LPGA Tour for 2008 after attending LPGA qualifying school in late 2007.
In June 2008, Amy Yang claimed her second LET title with a four-shot win at the Ladies German Open. Following the victory, she announced she would donate her entire prize of $61,260 to victims of a recent earthquake in China. Later that December, she returned to LPGA qualifying school and earned full playing status for 2009 by finishing second in the five-round event.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2009-2015)
After several seasons of consistent play, Amy Yang earned her first LPGA Tour victory on October 20, 2013, at the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship. She sealed the title by birdieing the first sudden-death playoff hole to defeat Hee-Kyung Seo. The win marked the arrival of one of South Korea’s most patient competitors.
On March 1, 2015, Amy Yang captured her second LPGA Tour title at the Honda LPGA Thailand. The victory demonstrated her ability to perform on a variety of courses and against diverse international fields. She continued to develop into a steady presence on tour throughout this period.
Sustained Success (2016-2023)
Amy Yang added further Honda LPGA Thailand titles in 2017 and 2019, bringing her total LPGA victories to multiple wins across the decade. Her calm, methodical approach earned her a reputation as one of the tour’s most reliable ball-strikers. She also remained active on the Ladies European Tour, where she accumulated additional victories across her career.
In 2023, Amy Yang won the Race to the CME Globe, recognizing her as one of the top performers on the LPGA Tour that season. The achievement reflected years of consistent contention and demonstrated her readiness to compete for the biggest prizes in women’s golf.
Major Triumph (2024)
On June 24, 2024, Amy Yang won her first major championship at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The victory came in her 75th major start, making it one of the longest waits for a maiden major in recent women’s golf history. The breakthrough cemented her legacy as a major champion.
Notable Events and Milestones
Amy Yang’s career milestones include her 2006 ANZ Ladies Masters win as the youngest LET champion of her era, her 2008 donation of prize money to earthquake relief efforts, and her 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship victory. Her Race to the CME Globe title in 2023 further underscored her consistency at the highest level.
Amy Yang Career Wins
Amy Yang has accumulated a verified total of six LPGA Tour wins and three Ladies European Tour titles, along with two victories on the KLPGA Tour. Her victories span multiple countries and continents, reflecting her global presence in professional golf.
LPGA Tour Highlights
Amy Yang’s six LPGA Tour victories include the 2013 LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship and three wins at the Honda LPGA Thailand in 2015, 2017, and 2019. Her first LPGA title came via a sudden-death playoff, while her Thai wins demonstrated her comfort in warm-weather events. She has additionally competed regularly in major championships throughout her career.
Ladies European Tour Highlights
Amy Yang’s three LET wins include her landmark 2006 ANZ Ladies Masters victory as a 16-year-old amateur and the 2008 Ladies German Open. She has also recorded additional strong finishes across LET events over her career.
Other Wins and Performances
Amy Yang has recorded two KLPGA Tour victories during her career, contributing to her overall tally of ten professional wins. Her international success across multiple tours highlights her adaptability and longevity in the sport.
Amy Yang Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Amy Yang was raised in a supportive family in South Korea, the daughter of Joon Mo, also known as James, and Sun Hee, also known as Sunny. Her parents made significant sacrifices to support her golf career, including relocating the family to Australia when she was 15 years old to provide better training opportunities.
Personal Life
Amy Yang lives with her father, mother, and younger brother, Steven. In the fall of 2007, the family relocated from Australia to Orlando, Florida, where she has maintained her residence. Her family’s continued presence in her daily life has been a hallmark of her professional journey.
2025 Season Performance
Amy Yang entered the 2025 LPGA Tour season as a major champion and Race to the CME Globe winner, raising expectations for continued contention at the highest events. Her track record of steady ball-striking and patient course management positioned her as a consistent threat on a variety of course setups. With major championship experience now secured, her focus in 2025 centers on adding to her LPGA win total and contending in the season’s biggest tournaments.
Throughout the 2025 season, Amy Yang continued to leverage the experience gained from her 2024 major victory. Her comfort in pressure situations, developed over more than a decade on tour, remained an asset during high-stakes events. The season represented an opportunity to build on her major triumph and pursue additional titles across the LPGA and Ladies European Tours.