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Former LPGA No.1-ranked Yani Tseng (曾雅妮) will lead a field of 99 professional players from ten countries into this week’s 2014 TAIFONG Ladies Open as the TLPGA Tour makes its way south to Changhua, Taiwan.
The Taiwanese pride strung together one of the most impressive stretches the golf world has even seen. Over 2010 to the beginning of 2012, Tseng notched 13 victories including four majors. She had also wins on the international circuit such as the CLPGA Tour, ALPG Tour, and of course the TLPGA Tour which has witnessed her back-to-back success at the TAIFONG Ladies Open in 2010 and 2011.
In 2011, Tseng became the youngest golfer, male or female, to win five major championships. However, it seemed that all the expectations on her being the “greatest ever” and it entailed were overwhelming. Her reign at No.1 was taken over after 109 weeks in the spring of 2013 by American Stacy Lewis. “There has been a lot going through my life. The pressure was a lot more than I thought I could carry.” Tseng admitted in an interview.
After a two-year struggle, a transition in the mindset has finally helped her back ready for a return to the top. “Now I know I have thrown it behind me and I just enjoy playing again,” said Tseng “I always wanted to retire when I’m on top. I’m not retiring yet, so there’s a lot more years to come!” Tseng is now ranked 34th in the world.
“Here used to be the place I started every season. It means a lot to me,” said Tseng about her first event in 2014 in this weekend. “It feels great to come back playing in front of familiar faces. I’m ready to just go out there and play some fearless golf!”
Taiwanese has a clean sweep in the event’s five-year history. Other than Tseng winning in 2010 and 2011, Teresa Lu (盧曉晴) garnered three titles in years of 2008, 2009, and 2012. Also trying to keep the perfect winning record alive is Lu Ya-Huei (呂雅惠), who finished 2013 atop the TLPGA money list, and JLPGA-based phenom Phoebe Yao (姚宣榆), who triumphed at the 2013 Yeang Der TLPGA Ladies Open and finished the year at TLPGA no.5 and LPGA no.163.
Nontaya Srisawang, following her first TLPGA Tour victory at last week’s TLPGA & Royal Open, will headline a list of 22 Thai players in the 54-hole tournament over the three-day competition.
The sixth TAIFONG Ladies Open boasts a total of NT$6,800,000 prize money, awarding the winner with a lucrative NT$2 million check. |
