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Tiger Woods reacts to his missed birdie putt on the second hole during the final round of the 91st PGA Championship on Sunday.

Momentum is not an iPhone app, available at the click of an icon. Turns out it’s not in the fabric of a red shirt, the label of a Nike swoosh or the power of a reputation either. Momentum is up for grabs and once Yang had it, even the phenomenal Woods could not get it back.

Yang’s lightning approach shot to the 18th green confirmed as much, Woods’ 33 putts and comeback-killing bogeys on the last two greens offered corroboration.

“You have to make putts and I didn’t do that,” Woods said. “All the other 14 major championship I have won, I’ve putted well for the entire week. And today was a day that didn’t happen.

“You look at the way Y.E. played, he did all the things he needed to do ... you look at his round, and I think he played beautifully.”

This has been an amazing season for Woods, who has come back from reconstructive knee surgery to win five PGA Tour events. This was his last chance to make the year especially sublime by adding another major championship to his collection.

Given his standards, the near miss will be disappointing. But the residual fallout is good for Woods, good for golf. After he missed the cut at the British Open — something he had done only one other time in his professional career — the second-place finish is a reaffirmation of the Hanky Haney alterations he has made in his game.

“One of the reasons why I changed my game with Hank is to be more consistent in the big events,” Woods said. “My career has certainly been much more consistent over the last five years. I’ve finished higher in major championships I don’t win.”

Perhaps we will see a different Woods on his next Sunday with the lead at a major. Perhaps he will have his foot more firmly on the pedal. Perhaps this will flame his competitive fires and push him to be even better — if that is possible.

At the same time, maybe there is a little more excitement in the game of professional golf today than there was a day earlier. Competition loses its lure when the outcome is discernible, when nothing is in doubt. Everyone appreciates Woods’ incredible record. But everyone appreciates a good fight. Thanks to Y.E. Yang for reminding us.