Global Golf Post: UK and Ireland

CHONBURI, THAILAND | So complete is Yani
Tseng’s dominance in women’s golf that certain
critics were already scratching their heads af-
ter Taiwan’s Tseng failed to capture the LPGA’s
opening event two Sundays ago in Australia.
After all, wasn’t she supposed to win every
week?
When world No. 1 Tseng posted an indiffer-
ent opening-round 73 Thursday at the Honda
LPGA Thailand, there were even suggestions
that an early season slump was on the horizon.

That was before Tseng wrapped the par-72 Old Course at Siam Country Club around her little finger while successfully and stylishly defending her title in this event.

She backed up a Friday 65 with another 65 Saturday. And the 66 she posted Sunday tied for the low round of the day with American teen Lexi Thompson and procured a one-shot victory over Japan’s Ai Miyazato.

So much for the slow start. So much for the rumors of parity in women’s golf.

Which is not
to say the final
round was not
without drama.
Tseng birdied
the 17th hole to take
a one-shot lead. Then
she watched as
Miyazato’s
third shot
on the par- 5
final hole
stopped just a Yani Tseng

few feet from the cup. Tseng responded with a wedge from 104 yards that almost went in the hole and came to rest inches away.

“After I saw Ai hit it so close, I was kind of
thinking that I have to make birdie to win it,”
Tseng said. “I didn’t know my ball was that
close. After I saw that, I was really happy. It
wasn’t like two feet and then I would be really
nervous. That tap-in putt was great. It feels re-
ally good to win here again.”
Jiyai Shin finished third at 17 under. Thomp-
son’s 66 moved her into a tie for 14th.

Picking up where she left off Saturday, Tseng got off to a hot start Sunday with an eagle on the first hole before tallying birdies on three of her next six holes to go 5 under through her first seven.

Her lead was at three when she made the turn but the gap closed down the stretch. Bogeys on the 10th and 13th opened the door for Miyazato and Shin to put pressure on Tseng.

Asked in an emotional post-victory press conference if the tears had anything to do with the pressure that she felt to repeat her 2011 season, when she captured seven wins on the LPGA Tour and a total of 12 victories worldwide, Tseng responded in the affirmative.

“Yes, of course,” Tseng said. “I feel much more pressure coming into this year. Last year when I started, I was nothing, I was just in the top five in the world but I didn’t have 12 wins or world No. 1 title. After last year, I have world No. 1 and I had 12 wins and that pressure keeps going on and on.”

RESULTS

The world's local bank hosts defending champion Karrie Webb and golf’s global tour for 16 hours of extended coverage on the Golf Channel for one of the LPGA’s most prestigious events.