Tseng birdies her way to Founders Cup win

Updated March 19, 2012 16:26:28

World number one Yani Tseng birdied five of the first six holes on the back nine to set up a one-stroke victory in the LPGA Founders Cup.

Tseng shot a closing 4-under-par 68 to win at 18-under 270 with Japan's Ai Miyazato (69) and South Korean world number two Na Yeon Choi (68) tied for second.

Australia's defending champion Karrie Webb had a disappointing final round of 73 to slip to equal 16th at 280.

Thunderstorm delays of 74 and 66 minutes stretched the day for the leaders at Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona.

But Tseng responded after the second stoppage with birdies at the par-4 10th and par-5 11th.

She ran off another streak of three in a row ending at the par-5 15th that was interrupted by a 42-minute storm delay, then parred the final three holes in a gathering gloom to take the victory.

It was Tseng's second triumph in four starts this year after a successful title defence last month in Thailand and her 14th career crown.

Tseng won 12 titles last year in a break-out season, seven of them in LPGA events and two at majors.

She will try to add to her major total in two weeks at the Kraft Nabisco, where she was second last year to American Stacy Lewis.

AFP

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First posted March 19, 2012 16:26:28

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Tseng victorious in California

Updated March 26, 2012 12:51:53

World number one Yani Tseng captured her second straight LPGA Tour title with a commanding six-shot win in Carlsbad, California.

Taiwan's Tseng closed with a 2-under-par 70 to reach a 14-under 274 total and take her third win in five events this year.

Lindsey Wright was the best-placed Australian in a tie for 20th place on 2-over.

"Today the first hole I just kind of felt like every day is the same," Tseng said.

"I didn't feel like today was Sunday. I didn't feel like I had a three-shot lead. I just focused on playing one shot at a time. I think I did a good job to just kind of focus on myself."

The 23-year-old Tseng led wire-to-wire at the La Costa's Legends Course, becoming the second-youngest player to reach 15 LPGA Tour wins.

She led the LPGA last year with seven victories, including the Women's British Open.

South Korea's Yoo Sun-Young finished second after shooting a 71. China's Feng Shanshan fired a 67 to tie for third with Shin Jiyai of South Korea at 7-under.

AFP

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First posted March 26, 2012 10:10:20

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Tseng takes charge at Mission Hills

Updated March 31, 2012 13:56:37

World number one Yani Tseng birdied her final hole to end the second round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship with a one-shot lead in Rancho Mirage, California.

A winner in six of her last 12 LPGA events, the long-hitting Taiwanese fired a 4-under-par 68 on another day of glorious sunshine at Mission Hills Country Club in the first women's major of the year.

Champion here in 2010 and fresh from consecutive victories on the US circuit, Tseng mixed five birdies with one bogey to post an 8-under total of 136 on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course.

South Korea's Kang Haeji was alone in second, after carding a 68, with compatriot Yoo Sun-young (69) and Australian Lindsey Wright (71) a further stroke back at 6-under 138.

Wright had joined Tseng at 8-under when she sank a curling 30-foot putt to birdie the par-four 10th but she slipped back with a double-bogey at the 15th to finish two off the pace.

Two more Koreans, Choi Na-yeon (67) and five-times major winner Pak Se-ri (69), and Swede Karin Sjodin (67) were tied for fifth at 5-under.

The ominous sight of Tseng at the top of the leaderboard will have the field at Mission Hills worried as the game's top player hunted a sixth major victory.

"To catch Yani is difficult," five-times LPGA champion Choi told reporters after compiling five birdies in a flawless display.

"When she's playing well, she looks like a very intimidating player. She played so well today and last week and two weeks ago. She's an amazing player right now."

Tseng had been disappointed with her opening 68 but she was much happier with the same score in her second round having negotiated slick greens that had quickened under a baking sun.

"Yesterday I had a couple of shots I just missed, and a couple of shots where I wasn't committed and I just hit it," said the 23-year-old, who has won four of the last eight majors

"But today, on every shot, I gave my 100 per cent focus. The goal was the same, but I feel so much happier today.

"I still have two more days to go, and this golf course suits me really well. I heard tomorrow's going to be very windy in the afternoon, so I just need to be patient."

Reuters

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First posted March 31, 2012 13:56:37

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Top-ranked Tseng wins in Thailand

Updated February 20, 2012 10:00:16

Taiwan's Yani Tseng clinched victory the LPGA Thailand tournament on Sunday in a thrilling performance that showed why she is the world's number one women's golfer.

Tseng, who was the defending champion in the $1.39 million event, fired a six-under-par 66 to edge Japan's Ai Miyazato by one stroke at the Siam Country Club Old Course after birdies on the final two holes.

The Japanese star performed bravely throughout the round, battling back time and again to keep the pressure on Tseng.

But the Taiwanese seized the win in dramatic fashion with a stunning iron to the green at the 18th from 104 yards, leaving her a two-foot birdie putt to defeat Miyazato, who also birdied the hole for a 68.

Korea's Shin Ji-Yai shot 67 for third place while compatriot Amy Yang was a further three shots behind.

Australia's former number one Karrie Webb, who enjoyed a three-stroke lead after the second round, finished ten off the pace after a final round 75.

Tseng said her victory was "very emotional" and she had to work hard for it, especially on the back nine.

"That was my shot of the week at the 18th," she said. "I knew I had to get it close because Ai had a birdie lined up. I didn't want it to go to a play-off."

Miyazato said she was quite happy with her performance despite just missing out.

"Overall I played really well, although I let slip a couple of birdie chances," she said. "But next time I want to win."

She praised Tseng's performance.

"Yani is number one, so I knew it wouldn't be easy. After five holes she was five-under and I kind of expected that."

The spectators were treated to golf of the highest calibre as the two stars battled it out.

Tseng showed her intentions right from the start with an eagle at the first hole, immediately wiping out Miyazato's overnight lead despite the Japanese player sinking a birdie at the same hole.

Looking supremely confident, Tseng moved into the lead with a birdie at the third and by the seventh was four shots ahead.

But Miyazato kept fighting back and on the back nine it was virtually toe-to-toe, especially the last four holes.

Shin, playing in the pairing in front with Karrie Webb, was also doing well and at the 17th was briefly level with Tseng, but was unable to deliver at the last. Webb's own challenge collapsed with a quadruple-bogey nine at the seventh and she finished in ninth place.

Tseng said she tried to stay relaxed on the back nine, with many Japanese in the huge gallery supporting Miyazato.

"My caddy kept me calm and I tried to smile a lot. It was an incredible crowd."

Then came the drama at the par-five 18th. Despite a poor drive, Miyazato gave herself the chance of a birdie but Tseng rose to the occasion with her third shot.

Sunday also included the third hole-in-one of the tournament when Morgan Pressel of the US aced the eighth.

AFP

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First posted February 20, 2012 10:00:16

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Tseng backing improved swing

Updated February 07, 2012 19:29:03

If Yani Tseng wanted to strike fear into the field for this week's Women's Australian Open, she succeeded.

The number one player in the world won 12 times last season, including seven times on the LPGA Tour, but has decided she needs to improve.

For the past two years, wins in the Australian Open at Commonwealth have propelled her to unrivalled form.

"I always have a good start here in Australia, hopefully it will be a good start for the year," the 23-year-old Taiwanese said.

"Last year is over. This is a new year for me. I have been working real hard in the off-season to change my swing a bit, to make it more consistent. I think I am ready for this year."

Tseng, who won two majors last year to bring her tally to five, is working to keep herself well distanced from her rivals and it is the swing in particular, which has come under scrutiny.

"When I take it back I always lean back a little bit so I have tried to change my back swing," she said.

"I have tried to get physically stronger, so my swing can match my physique. I have been working out very good. My trainer was in Orlando with me last month, and my coach. We work really hard."

Tseng says the result of the work is effortless power.

"I have more power. I don't swing as hard as before. I feel I am swinging easier and striking the ball better," he said.

"Now I feel that if I swing 70-80 per cent, the ball is still flying better than before. I always tried to swing really hard. Now I don't swing so hard but the ball still goes that far.

"I am very happy about that ... I can still rip it."

Tseng, who has a strong affinity for sand belt and links courses, played nine holes at Royal Melbourne on Monday and described the famed lay-out as "unbelievable."

"It was pretty tough. The greens were fast. I am very excited and I can't wait to go out and have fun," she said.

"I think you will have to play very well to win this tournament. We have a good field this week and a great golf course.

"The course is not long but you need to be very focused. Every shot. If you just miss-focus on one shot, you can get in big trouble. This week will be like a major course. You need to be smart, patient and focus on every shot."

Tseng says she learnt a lot about Royal Melbourne from watching the Presidents Cup there late last year.

"I watched many holes and ... I learnt a lot from the TV," she said.

"I know which places you better not go and the strategy to play. It worked out pretty well.

"You are going to use a lot of imagination to play on this course."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted February 07, 2012 19:29:03

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Super Tseng defends Open in style

Updated August 01, 2011 14:53:27

Taiwan's Yani Tseng confirmed she is the best player in the world by staging a successful defence of the Women's British Open at Carnoustie with a four-shot triumph.

The 22-year-old collected her fifth major - the youngest player to achieve the feat - with a final round 69 and a 16-under-par 272 total.

She won by a comfortable four shots from American Brittany Lang, who closed with a 67.

Sweden's Sophie Gstafson, the 2000 champion, claimed third place on 11-under after a 68 and South Korea's Amy Yang was fourth on 11 under with a closing 67.

Karrie Webb was the best-placed Australian, a distant 13 shots behind Tseng after a final-round 72.

It was Tseng's second major of the season - she won the LPGA Championship by 10 shots last month - and extended her lead at the head of the world rankings.

"I feel so good," a smiling Tseng said.

"This is a great place to win my second British Open because there is so much history attached to the course.

"I started out feeling a little nervous, but it was much easier than last year. I knew I could trust myself.

"I think the key was the 10-foot putt I made to save par at the 15th. I had been struggling a bit with my putter but that made me feel comfortable."

Tseng started the final round two shots behind Caroline Masson, but with the young German succumbing to the pressure, she took the lead by the time she had made her second birdie of the day at the long sixth.

She was four ahead at the turn and only made a slight stumble with bogeys at the 12th, where she hit her approach through the green, and at the short 13th, when she was unlucky to hit the pin with her tee shot and ricocheted into a horrible lie on the egde of a bunker.

But with no one else mounting a serious threat, the powerful Tseng regained control with birdies at the long 14th and 17th and a five-foot putt for birdie at the 18th was the icing on the cake that earned the 239,000 pounds first prize.

Tseng is three years younger than when Patty Berg won her fifth major in 1943 and she is now halfway to matching former world number one Annika Sorenstam's total of 10.

The Swede captured her tenth when she was 35.

Sherri Steinhauer was the last player to retain the British Open title, which became a major in 2001.

The only other player to win the title two years in a row was American Debbie Massey in 1980 and 1981.

Masson had a horror day, especially with the putter. The 22-year-old, who had led by one at halfway and two after 54-holes, was out in 39 and dropped more shots at the tenth and 11th and then double-bogeyed the 12th.

But the second-year professional did manage a brave finish.

She birdied the final two holes to rescue a 78 and finished in a tie for fifth place with the 2009 champion, Scotland's Catriona Matthew (72).

AFP

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First posted August 01, 2011 14:43:33

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Tseng retains LPGA title in Arkansas

Updated September 16, 2011 15:54:11

World number one Yani Tseng has made the most of her second chances, rolling in a four-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff to retain the LPGA Tour's Arkansas Championship title.

Taiwan's Tseng holed the winning putt on the par-five 18th hole to edge South Korea's Amy Yang who failed to convert a six-foot birdie attempt just moments earlier.

Tseng had her own putting woes on the final hole in regulation after failing to make a five-foot putt that would have given her the victory at the Pinnacle Country Club course.

Instead the pair headed to a playoff after they both closed with 3-under 68s to finish at 12-under 201.

Tseng leads the LPGA Tour with five wins this season, including major titles at the LPGA Championship and Women's British Open.

Yang parred the final 11 holes of regulation. She forced the play-off by making a four-foot putt on 18 after Tseng missed her short one.

Japan's Ai Miyazato shot a 66 to finish third at 11-under.

Cristie Kerr was the lone American to crack the top seven as she fired a final round 68 to end up two strokes back of Tseng.

AFP

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First posted September 12, 2011 17:13:37

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Tseng defends Open crown

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Tseng defends Open crown

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Tseng storms to LPGA Championship win

Published:Monday, June 27, 2011 9:22 AEST

Yani Tseng of Taiwan celebrates her 10-stroke victory on the 18th hole during the final round of the LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club on June 26, 2011 in Pittsford, New York.

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Tseng takes charge at LPGA Championship

Updated June 26, 2011 09:29:00

World No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan fired a 5-under par 67 on Sunday morning to seize a five-stroke lead after the third round of the LPGA Championship as she bids for a fourth major title.

Tseng, looking for a wire-to-wire victory in the second women's golf major championship of 2011, was leading the year's first major, the Kraft Nabisco, after 54 holes last April but fired a 74 and lost to American Stacy Lewis.

"I learned from that. I won't grab the trophy on the first hole," Tseng said.

"I'm excited. I will just go out there with a big smile tomorrow and enjoy it."

Entering the final round, 22-year-old Tseng stood on 13-under 203 with Americans Morgan Pressel and Cindy Lacrosse sharing second on 208 and South Korean Hee Young Park fourth on 210.

"I'll be right in front of her trying to put pressure on her," Pressel said of Tseng.

"I just have to be aggressive, not stupidly aggressive but just be patient and make putts. I've got to make some birdies but I'll give it a shot."

A pack sharing fifth on 211 included South Korean Meena Lee and Americans Lewis, Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr, who matched Tseng for the day's low round. Creamer fired 18 pars to stay in the hunt.

Tseng could complete a career grand slam at next month's US Women's Open after winning last year's Kraft Nabisco and Women's British Open crowns and the 2008 LPGA Championship.

Tseng birdied the par-4 second and added another at the par-3 ninth, then fired back-to-back birdies at the par-4 12th and 13th holes, stretching her lead to five strokes.

After stumbling with a bogey at the par-4 14th, Tseng responded with birdies at the par-3 15th and par-5 17th and needed another at the 18th to match the 54-hole tournament record of retired Swedish legend Annika Sorenstam.

Tseng was three-feet short on a 25-foot birdie putt but tapped in to finish an impressive round after leading by only a stroke after the first two days.

"I just wanted to stay below the hole, be very patient and make my putts," Tseng said of her round.

"To put it in the fairway, that's the most important thing. I just kept it below the pin. I just wanted to enjoy it and just relax."

Tseng could become the first player since retired Mexican star Lorena Ochoa in 2008 to win a major after capturing the prior regular LPGA event, having won the LPGA State Farm Classic two weeks ago, her seventh career LPGA crown.

Tseng also won her first four events of the year, the first in Taiwan, the next two in Australia and the LPGA season opener in Thailand.

Lacrosse birdied three of the first five holes on her way to a third-round 69.

"I've scrambled around and made some good par saves," Lacrosse said. "My putting and chipping has been pretty good."

Lewis, whose first career victory was at the Kraft Nabisco, will try to finish the first half of a grand slam by overhauling Tseng again on the last day.

"Off the tee she can lose it a litle bit," Lewis said. "I think if she has got a couple shot lead she has got a good chance."

- AFP

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First posted June 26, 2011 09:24:00

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Tseng takes massive win in US

Published:Monday, June 27, 2011 7:24 AESTExpires:Sunday, September 25, 2011 7:24 AEST

Taiwanese golfer Yani Tseng has won the LPGA Championship by 10 strokes in New York.

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Tseng wins LPGA Championship

Updated June 27, 2011 09:25:00

World No.1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan captured her fourth major title on Monday morning in overwhelming fashion, firing a final-round 6-under-par 66 to win the LPGA Championship at Locust Hill in New York by 10 strokes.

The 22-year-old Asian star became the youngest player to collect a fourth career major title, having previously taken last year's Kraft Nabisco and Women's British Open crowns as well as the 2008 LPGA Championship.

"I don't think about being the youngest," Tseng said. "I just focus on the shots and the tournament."

Tseng finished 72 holes on 19-under par 269 to complete a wire-to-wire victory for her eighth career LPGA crown.

Asked if she has ever played better, Tseng said, "I don't think so, especially because this is a major."

American Morgan Pressel was second on 279, one stroke ahead of compatriots Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr and Norway's Suzann Pettersen.

South Korean Meena Lee and American Stacy Lewis, the year's first major winner, were on 282.

Tseng also led this year's first major, the Kraft Nabisco, after 54 holes in April but went on to fire a 74 and lost to Lewis.

Tseng will have the chance to complete a career Grand Slam in two weeks at the US Women's Open in Colorado on the same Broadmoor course where Tseng's friend and role model, retired legend Annika Sorenstam, won her first major.

"I'm just going to talk to Annika, get some tips, go to the swimming pool and then head for the mountains," Tseng said.

"I think I have a chance (to win for the career Slam) the way I'm playing now. That sounds really good."

New face of the game

Sorenstam, a 10-time major champion from Sweden, lives only a long chip shot from Tseng in Florida after Tseng bought Sorenstam's former home.

Sorenstam warned current players that Tseng's best might very well be yet to come.

"She's playing some amazing golf. The way she is playing a major is really, really impressive," Sorenstam said. "She is the new face of the LPGA. She's great for the game.

"She still has some things to improve. Once she does, she is going to be hard to stop."

Tseng became the first player since retired Mexican star Lorena Ochoa in 2008 to win a major after winning her prior LPGA event, having won the State Farm Classic two weeks ago.

Taiwan prodigy Tseng is a former teen training partner of Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who won his first major title last week at the US Open at age 22.

While McIlroy hopes to become a dominant figure on the men's side beyond a single triumph, Tseng has already served notice this is her era in majors as well as this season.

Tseng won her first four events of the year, the first in Taiwan, the next two in Australia and the LPGA season opener in Thailand.

After waking up with a five-stroke lead, Tseng appeared to open the door for her pursuers with a bogey at the first. But Tseng birdied the next three holes and birdied the sixth and par-5 eighth to pull away.

"I just told myself, 'It's only the first hole. It's better than a bogey on 10 or 18,'" Tseng said. "I just told myself to be patient and try to get it back."

Tseng also birdied the next par-5 hole, the 11th, before taking another bogey at the 13th. Tseng responded with a birdie at 14 and another at the par-5 17th to reach 19-under and stretch her lead to double digits.

Tseng marched up to the 18th green to applause to find her ball 15 feet from the cup for a closing birdie. The putt rolled up just short but she dropped in a two-footer to finish off the triumph, then raised her arms to celebrate.

"I had very good emotions," Tseng said. "I felt so many people supporting me. I really feel appreciated."

Pettersen was already playing to prepare for the US Women's Open because Tseng was so far ahead.

"I just tried to grind it out and find something for the Open," Pettersen said.

"I found a little something but it was too late. Yani is playing really well out here. She's going to be a tough competitor all year around."

- AFP

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First posted June 27, 2011 09:18:00

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Tseng wins at Panther Creek

Posted June 13, 2011 11:33:00

Taiwan's top-ranked Yani Tseng won the LPGA State Farm Classic on Sunday, firing a 4-under-par 68 for a three-shot victory over American Cristie Kerr.

Tseng finished with a 21-under total of 267 on the Panther Creek Course, which may have hosted the last Springfield LPGA event with the State Farm insurance company's sponsorship now ending.

Tseng nabbed her seventh LPGA tour title in four years, and her second of 2011 after her triumph in the season-opening LPGA Thailand.

Kerr was the defending champion, but settled for her third straight runner-up finish this season.

Kerr closed with a 67 for 270, two shots in front of Paula Creamer (67) and Brittany Lincicome (70).

Mindy Kim, who relinquished the lead to Tseng in the third round after leading the first two rounds, carded a 73 for 273, where she was joined by South Korean veteran Se Ri Pak (68).

With the victory, Tseng laid the ghost of her 2008 playoff loss in this tournament. She had led by a stroke with one hole left in regulation but flew the green en route to a bogey.

She then three-putted the first extra hole in a loss to South Korea's Ji Young Oh.

"I walked to 18 and I have a little nightmare in my mind saying I make bogey at the last hole," Tseng said.

"But standing on the tee I told myself, 'OK, let's hit fairway, green, and make two putts. I Just kept telling myself, 'I can do this.'"

And she could. There were no mistakes this time around, as Tseng played the last two rounds without a bogey.

"I missed a couple of putts but I still was able to make some birdies," she said.

Tseng had given herself some breathing room with a birdie at the par-three 17th.

"That was huge," she said.

"I tried not to look at the leaderboard on 16. On 17, I know that's a tough hole so I just hit it. I was perfect - tap-in for birdie."

The crowd reaction was so loud that Tseng asked her caddie if the shot went in.

"I was asking, 'Is that in the hole?' Because I never made a hole-in-one since I turned pro, so I was really excited about that one."

Kerr opened her round with back-to-back birdies and finished with five birdies and no bogeys.

"I played good. I just needed to get some of those putts to the hole, give them a chance to go in," she said.

"It would have been nice to make birdie on the last hole, but it didn't matter. She was too far ahead."

- AFP

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Tseng, Choi advance at Match-Play

Updated May 22, 2011 08:52:00

World number one Yani Tseng of Taiwan and top seed Na Yeon Choi of South Korea advanced to the quarter-finals of the LPGA Match-Play Championship with early triumphs overnight.

Tseng, fourth in seedings that were based upon last year's LPGA final money list, won six holes on birdies to eliminate Paraguay's Julieta Granada 5 and 3.

Choi ousted Canada's Alena Sharp 3 and 1, taking the 16th hole with a par and the 17th with a birdie to reach the final eight.

In later matches to decide semi-final berths, Tseng will face Norway's fifth-seeded Suzann Pettersen and Choi will play Sweden's Sophie Gustafson, the lowest remining seed in the field at 42nd.

A birdie on the par-five 18th gave Pettersen a 1-up triumph over American Stacy Lewis while Gustafson edged US ninth seed Michelle Wie 1 up.

Gustafson fell 1-down three times on the front nine but answered each time to pull level and took her first lead with an eagle at the par-five ninth.

Wie squared the match with a birdie to open the back nine but the Swede regained the edge when Wie took a bogey at the par-three 12th.

Both followed with four pars, bogeys at the par-four 17th and birdies at 18 to see Wie drop out one round earlier than she did in 2010.

Japanese sixth seed Ai Miyazato and US third seed Cristie Kerr booked an afternoon quarter-final matchup with solid third-round morning triumphs over South Korean rivals.

Miyazato ousted 11th seed Inbee Park 2 and 1 while Kerr dispatched Kyeong Bae 4 and 2.

American Angela Stanford, last year's Match-Play runner-up and this year's 18th seed, ousted South Korean Meena Lee 5 and 4. Stanford next faces 10th seed Paula Creamer, who eliminated American compatriot Brittany Lang 3 and 2.

- AFP

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First posted May 22, 2011 07:22:00

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