World No. 1 women’s golfer Yani Tseng said Oct. 18 that she hopes to win Taiwan’s first ever LPGA tournament, set to open at the Sunrise Golf and Country Club in Taoyuan County Oct. 20.
Tseng made the comments at a news conference promoting the Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship, which was also attended by second-ranked female golfer Suzann Pettersen of Norway and South Korea’s Choi Na Yeon, who defeated Tseng by a single stroke to win the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia tourney less than a week ago.
“I’m really happy to have the opportunity to compete in a pro tournament in my hometown, and I really appreciate all the support and efforts of the government and organizers over the last few years,” Yang said.
“I hope that everyone in Taiwan comes away with wonderful memories of this tournament,” she added.
Tseng will be competing against many of the world’s best female golfers in the Taiwan event, including seven other of the top ten ranked players as of mid-September, including Pettersen, Choi, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome, Shin Jiyai, Kim In-Kyung and Ai Miyazato.
On the same day, the LPGA announced that Tseng has been named the Rolex Player of the Year for 2011, making her the first Asian and only the eighth women’s golfer to win the honor in two consecutive seasons.
“Every time that Tseng picks up a golf club, she makes history,” said LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan. (SB)