Local hero Yani Tseng (曾雅妮) and Ai Miyazato of Japan fired matching first-round four-under 68s in windy conditions to share the lead at the inaugural Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship yesterday.
The celebrated pair hold a one-stroke lead over the trio of Morgan Pressel, Jennifer Song and Anna Nordqvist.
Playing in front of her hometown crowd, Tseng bounced back from a bogey on the first hole to record five birdies, including a clutch birdie on her final hole to gain a share of the lead at Sunrise Golf & Country Club in Yangmei.
Photo: Pichi Chuang, Reuters
“When I play in the [United] States, I don’t feel like I’m alone because I know I have everyone watching on TV here to comfort me,” said Tseng, 22, who is the world No. 1.
“Every shot you have a big crowd, every putt if I don’t make it they always say: ‘It’s OK, you can do it, the next hole you will be fine,’” Tseng said.
“You always have so many supporters no matter how good or bad you play,” she said.
The normally composed Tseng blamed nerves for the uncharacteristic bogey on the opening hole, but she soon recovered, responding with five birdies to leave her in prime position for the second round.
“I do, especially when I see so many fans on the first hole, it was incredible,” Tseng said when asked if she felt nervous playing at home.
“I was nervous until my caddy tried to make me focus on my shot and ignore everything, to take it one shot at a time,” she said.
Tseng has notched six LPGA Tour victories this year already and she became the youngest player, male or female, to win five majors after her win at the Women’s British Open.
Miyazato, who is looking to secure her second LPGA Tour victory this season, said: “I just played really good because I kept hitting the fairways and kept hitting the greens, so that’s why I played solid today.”
“But it still depends on the wind and I heard that tomorrow it is going to rain as well. So just be patient out there and try to have a birdie out there,” she added.
Song, who is looking to secure her first LPGA Tour victory, fired a 69 to sit one stroke behind the leaders. Her best finish this year was tied for 16th at the Avnet LPGA Classic.
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