Yani Tseng wins Thai LPGA with final-hole birdie

Tseng fired a 6-under 66 to retain the title by finishing the tournament with a 19-under total of 269 to beat strong challenge from Japan's Ai Miyazato by just one shot and Jiyai Shin of South Korea by two strokes in a thrilling conclusion to the year's second LPGA event.

“I was really nervous. I mean I played great on the front nine, but (on the) back nine it was a little tough,” said Tseng, who broke down in tears after clinching the title with a winning tap-in for birdie on the final hole.

The title is the world No. 1's first of the year after winning 12 titles worldwide, including seven LPGA championships, in 2011.

Leading by one shot at the par-5 18th hole, Tseng drove her tee shot left into a tree, but got a break when her ball bounced in a favorable direction into the rough. She then played her second shot safely into the fairway.

With playing partner Miyazato, who trailed Tseng at that point by a single shot, already on the green within birdie range, the Taiwanese star responded by launching her third shot to within inches of the cup, guaranteeing victory.

'An incredible shot'

“That was an incredible shot. I would say it was the shot of the day, the shot of the week,” Tseng said.

“There was a lot of pressure,” the champion said, “especially with Ai hitting it so close. I knew she was going to make birdie, so I told myself that I need to get close and try to keep making birdie.”

With a shot beyond third-round leader Miyazato at the start of the day, Tseng carded an eagle and three birdies in her first seven holes for 18-under, and appeared ready to run away from the field.

But Tseng's bogeys on the 10th and 13th and flurries of birdies by Miyazato and Shin narrowed Tseng's two closest pursuers back to within a shot of the lead.

Shin, playing one group ahead of Tseng, gained a share of the lead at 17-under with a birdie on 17, and Miyazato joined the group with a birdie at the same hole minutes later.

But resisting the mounting pressure, Tseng responded with a short-range putt on the same hole to put herself back in front, setting up the dramatic finish on 18 that left her in tears.

The back nine was nerve-wracking for the defending champion, she admitted later, as many of her birdie putts just missed their targets.

“Especially with Shin and Ai continuing to make birdies. I was like, 'I need to drop some balls in.' (The 18th) was great. I had a great hole on the 18th hole to finish with birdie,” Tseng said.

A Good Start

Asked about her goal for 2012 in the wake of last year's 12 wins, Tseng called the victory in Thailand a good start for the year.

“Hopefully I can win another 12 tournaments this year too,” the Taiwanese golfing star answered with a smile.

Veteran golfers in Taiwan who have been closely observing Tseng's brilliant career said one of her biggest strengths is the ability to maintain coolness to beat back challenges from the world-class payers on the competitive Ladies Professional Golf Association tour.

Yesterday also saw the third hole-in-one of the tournament when Morgan Pressel of the United States aced the eighth.

The LPGA tour next moves to neighboring Singapore for the HSBC Women's Champions tournament.

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