Tseng holds off Hull's brave challenge

BY Bruce Young | Ladies European Tour | 2010 Ricoh Womens British Open | Round Four | 02 Aug 2010

Taiwan’s Yani Tseng added yet another major to an impressive victory list in her short career by hanging on down the stretch to win the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale. This was Tseng’s third career major after winning the LPGA Championship in her rookie season in 2008 and then the Kraft Nabisco earlier this year.

Tseng is rapidly becoming a big event player with three of her four LPGA victories being major championships. Tseng also won the Australian Open in Melbourne earlier this year when producing a stunning final round of 66 at the Commonwealth Golf Club to defeat Laura Davies and Karrie Webb.

Tseng was today forced to hold off a brave challenge from Australian Katherine Hull who turned around a rather dismal British Open record by finishing within one of winner. Hull’s previous best finish in five starts at the British Open was when 40th at Sunningdale last year.

Hull birdied her final five holes in round three to get within four of Tseng’s 54 hole lead and today closed the gap to just one with two early birdies and a bogey at the 3rd by Tseng. By the turn however Tseng’s earlier lead had been restored but Hull would not go away.

A bogey at the 10th by Tseng and birdies at the 11th and 13th by Hull and it was game on once again with just one shot separating the pair. With consecutive par fives to finish the Royal Birkdale layout it appeared as if they may play a key role in determining the outcome. Unfortunately for Hull she was unable to convert opportunities at both and although Tseng made a mess of the final hole she was able to hole a three footer for par and win by one.

Tseng was buoyed by a note from Annika Sorenstam prior to her final round. Sorenstam has become a mentor of sorts to Tseng in recent times, in fact Tseng purchased Sorenstam’s previous home in the US a couple of years ago. Sorenstam’s note read, “That’s where you belong. Trust your ability and have fun.”

Tseng was ecstatic.

“I have three majors already, and this is my third year on Tour. I’m 21 years old, three majors. It’s like, nobody can think that way,” said Tseng. “I was never leading and won the tournament before. I was always leading and lost. So today was really good. It meant a lot to me that I know I can do it when I really need to do it to win a tournament.”

“Katherine Hull played awesome today. She really pushed me a lot, and I was so nervous and trying to just stay patient all the time.”

Tseng will close in on Ji Yai Shin’s number one position in the female game and it may be that even at the age of 21 appears as if she may be the player to potentially dominate the female game over the next few years.

Hull had mixed emotions.

“I’m really thrilled, I guess, right now. Disappointed on my short game at the finish, but that’s golf. I’m really happy with my ball-striking the entire week. I’ve got to be a lot more focused actually on the ball. It seemed to work this week, and it’s going to have to be something I really ingrain. It’s a good confidence boost, and I’ve just got to keep doing the right things and got to keep working as hard if not harder and get myself into contention more.”

Hull earned US$265,000 for her runner up finish her second biggest cheque in golf after her win in Canada in 2008.

Koreans Na Yeon Choi and in Kyung Kim finished in a share of third three shots behind Hull. Amy Yang, Cristie Kerr and Hee Kyung Seo finished in a share of 5th, Yang adding yet another fine week to her 5th place at the US Open.

The only other Australians to make the cut were Karrie Webb who finished 43rd and Sarah Jane Smith 55th.

The LPGA Tour now has a two week break before the Safeway Classic in Oregon.