Super Tseng blazes new trail
Source: Agencies |
August 2, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINESE Taipei's Tseng Yani staged a successful defense of the Women's British Open title with a final-round 69 and a 16-under 272 total at Carnoustie, Scotland, on Sunday.
She won by four shots from American Brittany Lang, who closed with a 67.
It was a second major of the season, and a fifth overall, for the 22-year-old Tseng following her 10-shot win in the LPGA Championship last month. She is the youngest player - male or female - to win five majors.
Germany's Caroline Masson, the two-shot overnight leader, crumbled to a 78 and finished in a tie for fifth place on 9 under.
Tseng started the final round two shots behind Masson but took the lead by the time she had made her second birdie of the day with a four at the long sixth.
She was four ahead with seven to play 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 unluckily hit the pin with her tee shot and the ball ricocheted into a terrible spot overhanging a bunker.
But with no one else mounting a charge, she regained control with birdies at the long 14th and 17th and a five-foot putt for birdie at the 18th secured first prize.
"It is a great honor to win the British Open again," said Tseng. "There is so much history attached to this course. I felt more comfortable this year because I'm learning all the time. My mental game is so much better."
Masson stumbled to the turn in 39 and never looked at ease. But she did birdie the final two holes to rescue a 78 and finished in a tie with the 2009 champion, Scotland's Catriona Matthew (72).
Tseng, in fact, is fast becoming the toast of Taipei - and the rest of her home island.
Tseng is only the third player to win consecutive Women's British titles, joining Americans Sherri Steinhaurer (1998, 1999) and Debbie Massey (1980, 1981).
Yesterday, her victory dominated the front pages of Taiwanese newspapers, with all four Chinese-language dailies featuring front page photographs of her lifting her newly awarded trophy. Cable news stations also repeatedly replayed her big moment in Scotland, dressed in matching white jumper, short pants and shoes, and lifting the trophy triumphantly.
The mass circulation Apple Daily wrote on the front page, "Ni is great," while United Daily News chimed in that she had rewritten history.
Tseng told Apple Daily after the tournament that she is hoping to get some rest after returning home to Taipei later this week.
"I want to get some good sleep, and then eat properly," She said. "I miss Taiwanese food very much."
Cable news channel TVBS said Tseng had further consolidated her status as the world's No. 1 female golfer following the win, while news station CTI added: "Yani Tseng again shines on the international stage."
Golf boomed in Chinese Taipei in the 1980s, but by the early 1990s the sport had started to fade, as government money and corporate sponsorships were funneled to more popular sports, particularly baseball.
Tseng's spectacular performances in recent years have helped return interest to golf on the island and her scheduled participation at an LPGA tournament in suburban Taipei in late October is expected to draw a huge turnout.
She won by four shots from American Brittany Lang, who closed with a 67.
It was a second major of the season, and a fifth overall, for the 22-year-old Tseng following her 10-shot win in the LPGA Championship last month. She is the youngest player - male or female - to win five majors.
Germany's Caroline Masson, the two-shot overnight leader, crumbled to a 78 and finished in a tie for fifth place on 9 under.
Tseng started the final round two shots behind Masson but took the lead by the time she had made her second birdie of the day with a four at the long sixth.
She was four ahead with seven to play 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 unluckily hit the pin with her tee shot and the ball ricocheted into a terrible spot overhanging a bunker.
But with no one else mounting a charge, she regained control with birdies at the long 14th and 17th and a five-foot putt for birdie at the 18th secured first prize.
"It is a great honor to win the British Open again," said Tseng. "There is so much history attached to this course. I felt more comfortable this year because I'm learning all the time. My mental game is so much better."
Masson stumbled to the turn in 39 and never looked at ease. But she did birdie the final two holes to rescue a 78 and finished in a tie with the 2009 champion, Scotland's Catriona Matthew (72).
Tseng, in fact, is fast becoming the toast of Taipei - and the rest of her home island.
Tseng is only the third player to win consecutive Women's British titles, joining Americans Sherri Steinhaurer (1998, 1999) and Debbie Massey (1980, 1981).
Yesterday, her victory dominated the front pages of Taiwanese newspapers, with all four Chinese-language dailies featuring front page photographs of her lifting her newly awarded trophy. Cable news stations also repeatedly replayed her big moment in Scotland, dressed in matching white jumper, short pants and shoes, and lifting the trophy triumphantly.
The mass circulation Apple Daily wrote on the front page, "Ni is great," while United Daily News chimed in that she had rewritten history.
Tseng told Apple Daily after the tournament that she is hoping to get some rest after returning home to Taipei later this week.
"I want to get some good sleep, and then eat properly," She said. "I miss Taiwanese food very much."
Cable news channel TVBS said Tseng had further consolidated her status as the world's No. 1 female golfer following the win, while news station CTI added: "Yani Tseng again shines on the international stage."
Golf boomed in Chinese Taipei in the 1980s, but by the early 1990s the sport had started to fade, as government money and corporate sponsorships were funneled to more popular sports, particularly baseball.
Tseng's spectacular performances in recent years have helped return interest to golf on the island and her scheduled participation at an LPGA tournament in suburban Taipei in late October is expected to draw a huge turnout.
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