A pep talk from golfing great Annika Sorenstam spurred Taiwan’s Yani Tseng to grab a commanding four-shot lead in the second round of the Women’s British Open on Friday.
The 21-year-old Florida resident, who bought former world No. 1 Sorenstam’s house in Orlando, carded a second straight 68 before Royal Birkdale was deluged by rain.
“I asked her [Annika] how I could become the world No. 1 and she taught me a lot,” fifth-ranked Tseng told reporters. “She knows that I am a very aggressive player, but she told me that I had to play smarter.”
PHOTO: AFP
Tseng took on board the Swede’s advice and sunk five birdies in the second round.
She pulled off a great escape at the par-five 15th, where she carved her first tee shot into the rough and hit an even wilder provisional, but fortune was again on her side as she found the first ball and rescued a par.
After reaching the halfway point on eight-under 136, she is determined to stay in front of the chasing pack.
“I’ve never led a major in the early rounds before. I’m going to try and lead all the way this week,” the twice major winner told reporters.
South Korea’s Amy Yang (71), along with Americans Cristie Kerr (67) and Brittany Lincicome (71), shared second place on four-under.
World No. 1 Shin Ji-yai, who carded a 71 in the worst of the weather, was also still in the hunt on two-under.
Taiwan’s Amy Hung shot a 74 for a five-over 149, just enough to make the cut. Compatriot Candie Kung carded a 76 for 151, missing the cut, while Teresa Lu withdrew after the first round.
US Open champion Paula Creamer aggravated a thumb injury hitting out of the rough at the 17th, but survived the cut by a shot after a 74 took her to four-over, but there was no lucky escape for holder Catriona Matthew. The Scot’s challenge ended before the weekend after she ran up an embarrassing 10 at the par-four 13th.
After driving into a bramble bush, she hit a third shot into deep rough and attempted three hacks, before taking a penalty drop and making a chip and two putts.
“Having a 10 and missing the cut is not the way I wanted to defend the title,” the 40-year-old Scot said. “I was playing so well on the range, but couldn’t take the same game on to the course.”
Additional reporting by Staff Writer
■BRUNEI OPEN
AFP, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei
Malaysia’s Ben Leong returned to his best form to take a share of the third-round lead with overnight leader Mohammad Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh at the Brunei Open yesterday.
Leong put himself in contention for a second Asian Tour title with a four-under 67, while Siddikur bogeyed the last hole for a 70.
The joint leaders are tied with a three-day total of 12-under 201 at the Empire Hotel and Country Club.
Former Brunei Open champion Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang battled to a 66 to lie in tied third position with South Africa’s Jbe Kruger and Australian Adam Blyth on a 202 total.
English duo Simon Griffiths and Nick Redfern, runner-up at the King’s Cup in Thailand last year, are a stroke back with India’s Anirban Lahiri on 203.
Leong got off to a bright start with five birdies in his opening six holes followed by a bogey on eight to make the turn in 31, before adding a bogey and a birdie on the back nine.
The Malaysian, who endured a poor run after his victory at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters in 2008, credited his recent form to a trip to see his coach David Milne last week.
“I putted amazingly on the front nine, but the conditions started to get really hot and the wind was blowing strongly,” he said. “I have been seeing my coach a lot this year and met him last week in Singapore. Training with him has really helped my game and that’s one of the reasons I’m doing well.”
Siddikur, 25, took a step closer to becoming the first Bangladeshi to win on the Asian Tour. He rued a cold putter, but was determined to bounce back and secure an historic victory.
“It was disappointing to bogey the last hole or I might have taken a one-stroke lead. Overall, I’m still happy to be in contention and looking forward to making a title push,” he said.
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