Gold Coast based South Korean golfing sensation, Amy Yang, today announced her decision to turn professional following the granting of a special exemption that will allow her to play the Ladies European Tour (LET). Ladies European Tour Chief Executive Officer, Alexandra Armas, has approved Yang s membership of the LET – that approval requiring a special exemption due to Yang being under the age of 18 normally required for membership. Yang turned 17 in July of this year. As the winner of the ANZ Ladies Masters in February, at the age of 16 years, Yang became the LET s youngest ever winner and she was also the first amateur to win on the Tour in 22 years. She will take up exempt status as a tournament winner, which will see her exempt on the LET until November 30, 2009. Yang leaves for Dubai in two weeks time where her first event as a professional will be the 500,000 (A $ 850,000) Ladies European Tour s Dubai Ladies Masters beginning on October 26. Speaking from the Gold Coast today Yang expressed her delight in being able to compete on the LET. This is a great opportunity for me to gain experience in Europe. To have been offered a three year exemption at this stage has been very kind of the LET and I am very grateful to them for doing so. Yang will continue her studies at Robina High School on the Gold Coast in between tournament commitments. We have worked out a way where I can attend high school and yet still play in the events which fall during or around school holidays, added Yang. Earlier this year Yang played two events on the Ladies European Tour at the Evian Masters in France and the Weetabix Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes. She had been invited to those events as a result of her playoff victory over American Catherine Cartwright at the ANZ Ladies Masters on the Gold Coast – an event co-sanctioned between the LET and Australian Ladies Professional Golf. I enjoyed that experience, said Yang, referring to playing in France and England. It showed me how different golf is in different parts of the world and in all kinds of conditions. When asked about defending her ANZ Ladies Masters title as a now recognised professional Yang replied, It will be a very different feeling as there will be much more pressure on me this year but I am looking forward to it very much. Speaking on behalf of Australia Ladies Professional Golf, their General Manager Warren Sevil, said the future was bright for the talented Yang. Amy s win at the 2006 ANZ Ladies Masters has certainly opened many doors and the LET decision to allow her membership will guarantee her playing privileges for the next few years. Her golf swing and mental game are beyond her 17 years and there is no doubt she is ready to take on the world. We will follow her progress with much interest and trust that the skills she has developed in Australia will lead to much success in the professional ranks. Alexandra Armas, Executive Director, Ladies European Tour, expressed her delight at welcoming the Tour s youngest member. I am thrilled to welcome Amy to the LET. She is undoubtedly a hugely talented player and I thought that her performance at the ANZ Ladies Masters was outstanding. On behalf of all staff and members of the LET I wish her the greatest success in her professional career. Yang finished by thanking those who have helped her to this stage of her career. There are many but I would like to especially thank the Ladies European Tour for their consideration, my family, my friend and advisor Anna Gammon, my coach Lawrie Montague, Shane Stevenson and the team at Robina High School, the Gold Coast Bulletin s Terry Wilson and Warren Sevil from Australian Ladies Professional Golf Inc. SOURCE: ALPG
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