Taiwan’s Yani Tseng (曾雅妮) broke down in tears after she survived a final day showdown with Australia’s Katherine Hull on Sunday to win her third major at the Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale.
Tseng, the leader from round one, went into the final 18 holes with a four-shot lead, but it was down to one with five to play and she eventually had to hole a six-foot par putt at the last to secure victory with a round of 73.
On 11-under, Tseng finished one ahead of Hull, who shot 70, and the 21-year-old is now the youngest woman to have won three majors. Her previous wins came in the 2008 LPGA Championship and the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March.
PHOTO: AFP
Having appeared totally in control during the first 54 holes in which she shot 68 in every round and dropped only one shot, she was much more edgy on Sunday and the tears flowed after she struck the final putt.
“I was so tired and the last few holes were so hard,” she told reporters. “I felt so much pressure out there and it’s been an unbelievable day. Even when I holed the putt at the last I had to ask my caddie: ‘Did I win?’ Katherine played some awesome golf and pushed me all the way. She’s a great, great player.”
Hull made an early move with back-to-back birdies at the second and third to close the gap to one shot, but Tseng was four ahead again by the turn, helped by birdies at the fourth, from 30 feet, and the long sixth, but Hull again fought back.
There was a two-shot swing at the 10th when the 28-year-old Queenslander made a 15-foot putt and Tseng missed a short one for par and Hull hit her second shot to within three feet for another gain at the 13th.
With only one top 10 finish in 23 previous majors, it was a day of mixed emotions for the Australian.
“I am disappointed, but there are also a lot of positives to take from this week. I never gave up, but it’s just a pity I couldn’t make a birdie at one of the three long holes at the end,” Hull said.
For Tseng, who came into the championship as the world No. 5, it is another step toward her goal of becoming world No. 1.
None of the other players managed to really mount a serious challenge. Two South Koreans — Choi Na-yeon (68) and Kim In-kyung (71) — finished in joint third on seven-under.
Yesterday, the Sports Affairs Council (SAC) congratulated Tseng on her win.
The SAC said that the 21-year-old Taiwanese was only the fifth Asian golfer to triumph at the Women’s British Open.
“Tseng is now the youngest golfer to have won three major titles,” the SAC said in a statement. “She also set a record of securing both the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the British Open Championship in the same year.”
Tseng finished in the top 10 at US Women’s Open last month, the only major title that she now needs to complete her pursuit of the Grand Slam of majors.
“Her [Tseng’s] story has made her a role model for all [Taiwanese] athletes,” the SAC said.
Hsu Tien-ya (??, chairman of the Golf Association of Taiwan, also said yesterday that the association had recently submitted an application to host an LPGA championship tournament next year, adding that the result could be known within the next two months.
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