British Open Champion Yani Tseng is No. 1 in LPGA women's world rankings

"Taiwan's Yani Tseng displays the trophy after winning the Women's British Open, at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England, Sunday Aug. 1, 2010." (AP Photo/Tim Hales)



"Taiwanese golfer vaults to No.1 in LPGA women's world rankings
2010/08/02 14:22:46

Taipei, Aug. 2 (CNA) Taiwanese golfer Yani Tseng has moved into the top spot in the standings for the LPGA Player of the Year award after winning the 2010 Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale Sunday.

The 21-year-old held off Katherine Hull of Australia by one stroke to claim the title and 260,000 pounds (US$408,714) in prize money.

The victory catapulted Tseng from the world's number five to the top place in the standings for the LPGA Player of the Year award, ahead of Japan's Ai Miyazato, the United States' Christie Ker and South Korea's Na Yeon Choi and Ji Yai Shin.

Tseng also vaulted into the third place on the U.S. LPGA Tour's list of top earners for the year after she won the British Open. Tensg has racked up prizes totaling US$1.12 million so far this year, behind Shin with US$1.21 million and Choi with US$1.18 million.

Tseng's total earnings in her golf career now approach US$4.2 million, which puts her in 40th place on the world list.

Tseng made history Sunday by winning the British Open. She is the youngest woman golfer to capture three majors.

Her previous wins came in the 2008 LPGA Championship and the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March this year.

She is also the first Taiwanese golfer to conquer the coastal Royal Birkdale course since the LPGA Women's British Open was launched in 1976.

Tseng realized the dream that veteran Taiwanese golfer Lu Liang-huan pursued 39 years ago. In 1971, Lu, now 75 years old, lost to Lee Buck Trevino of the United States at Royal Birkdale by one stroke.

Tseng has become the fourth Asian golfer to have her name engraved on the championship trophy since the British Open was upgraded to a major LPGA event in 2001. The other three Asian winners have all been South Koreans.

Tseng was also the first female golfer to win both the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the British Open in the same year. (By Oscar Wu and Sofia Wu)"

Taiwan's Yani Tseng aims to be world's No.1 woman golfer this year

This is a little complicated. If the LPGA rankings were based on only this year's wins, Yani Tseng would be number one. However, it turns out that the LPGA rankings are based on a two-year average. Under the LPGA formula, Yani Tseng is not number one. She can become number one if she wins more victories this year or next year.



"Taiwan's Yani Tseng aims to be world's No.1 woman golfer this year
By The Associated Press (CP) – 10 hours ago


Yani Tseng, of Taiwan, poses for a photo with her trophy after winning the LPGA's Northwest Arkansas Championship golf tournament in Rogers, Ark., Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010. Tseng shot a 6-under-par 65 on the day and was 13 under par for the tournament. (AP Photo/April L. Brown)

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan's Yani Tseng says she aims to become the world's No. 1 in women golf this year.

Tseng claimed her third LPGA victory of the current campaign when she won in Arkansas on Sunday. Other 2010 victories were at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the Women's British Open.

Speaking to reporters in Taipei on Tuesday, Tseng said her game needs to reach even higher levels if she is to improve on her current No. 4 ranking.

"I have to work on my putting and stamina ... and make more birdies in the upcoming tournaments," she said. "I have a good opportunity to become world No.1 this year."

Following her victory in Arkansas, Tseng is reckoned by many to become the next dominant female player following the recent retirements of Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa.

"In my heart they are still the best women's players in the world," Tseng said. 'I hope in the future I can also be involved in more charity efforts just like them.'"