Golf World Monday - June 27, 2011

6.27.2011

yani tseng’s
historic win

ever since she defeated the more highly touted michelle wie in the 2004 u.s. women’s amateur public links final, modest yani tseng has been surprising us with her amazing talent. well, it’s about time we stop being surprised. with her dominating 10-stroke victory at the wegman’s lpga championship, the 22-year-old tseng became the youngest golfer, male or female, to win four majors since young tom morris captured the 1872 british open at age 21. with a closing 66, tseng’s 19-under 269 tied the women’s record for lowest score in relation to par in a major championship. tseng, a native of taiwan, blends power, classic technique and touch in an athletic way that evokes the great mickey wright more than any other champion of the woman’s game. along with being supremely talented, tseng is also sweet-natured, self-effacing and a good interview in her dramatically improving english. what else does the lpga want? if nothing else, tseng’s domination should mark the end of the lpga tournament promos featuring the american likes of paula creamer, natalie gulbis, cristie kerr, morgan pressel and wie at the exclusion of the game’s more highly rated foreign stars. it’s time to celebrate a new superstar. “i didn’t know she would be this good,” said the humbled kerr. “she is pretty dang good.” —Jaime Diaz