Sports

Tseng scores runaway victory at LPGA Championship

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-06-27 10:22

Yani Tseng holds the trophy after winning the LPGA Golf Championship in Pittsford, New York， June 26, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

* Tseng becomes youngest to win four professional majors

PITTSFORD, New York - Yani Tseng from Taiwan of China underlined her status as women's world number one by winning the LPGA Championship on Sunday by 10 strokes to become the youngest golfer to amass four major professional titles.

The 22-year-old Tseng, who began the overcast day with a five-shot lead, doubled her advantage by posting a final-round 66 at Locust Hill for a record-tying total of 19-under-par 269 that left American Morgan Pressel (71) a distant second.

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Tseng, who won the 2008 LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock and last year's Kraft Nabisco and Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale, surpassed Pak Se-ri of South Korea and Tiger Woods, who were both 24 when they won a fourth professional major.

Patty Berg was 23 when she captured her first four majors in the years before the formation of the LPGA.

The long-hitting golfer matched the best women's major score in relation to par, duplicating Cristie Kerr's total here last year, Dottie Pepper's winning score at the 1999 Kraft Nabisco and Briton Karen Stupples' total in claiming the 2004 Women's British Open.

Asked by TV interviewer if that was the best she had ever played, Tseng said: "I think so, especially since this is a major."

Yani Tseng of Taiwan watches her tees shot on the ninth hole during the final round of the LPGA Golf Championship in Pittsford, New York， June 26, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Her brilliant showing at Locust Hill represented a rebound from disappointment at the previous women's major, the Kraft Nabisco in April, where she lost a two-shot lead in the final round by posting 74 to finish second to Stacy Lewis.

The victory was her third of the season and gave her three major wins from the last six women's majors played.

The 23-year-old Pressel, winner of the 2007 Kraft Nabisco, birdied the par-five 17th hole to snap a four-way tie for second place and finish on nine-under-par 279.

Tied for third on 280 were Americans Kerr (69) and Paula Creamer (69), and Norway's Suzann Pettersen (67), the 2007 winner.

"Yani is doing what I did last year," said Kerr. "I'm not surprised. Yani is a great player. She's in the prime of her career. She's found her stride at a young age."

Pettersen also praised Tseng. "Yani is a phenomenal golfer," said Pettersen, who reached nine-under with three birdies in a row from the 15th before sliding with a bogey at the last. "I think she is great."

The resilient Tseng overcame a stumble at the first hole before turning the final round into a romp.