Top-ranked Yani Tseng hopes to defend her crown and pick up her fifth major title at this week’s Women’s British Open. Should the 22-year-old, who finished T12 Sunday at last week’s Evian Masters, be victorious, she would be halfway to the number of majors her mentor, Annika Sorenstam, captured during her storied career.
Young Tom's dad. In a twist to the contest, which starts Thursday at Scotland’s Carnoustie Golf Links, Tseng will play on a course redesigned by the father of the only golfer in history to win five majors at a younger age than she was when she romped to victory at last month’s LPGA Championship. Old Tom Morris, father of Young Tom (likely the games first young phenom), extended the course to 18 holes in 1870.
Tseng finished her winning round last year at Royal Birkdale Golf Club at 11-under-par 277, one stroke better than Katherine Hull. It was Tseng’s third major title.
Tseng, who will play the first round with Morgan Pressel and Mika Miyazato (no relation to Ai) will go up against a loaded field at Carnoustie, with 22 of the top-23 players in the world set to go. Among the golfers Tseng will have to defeat will be Evian champ Ai Miyazato, who jumped from No. 10 to No. 6 with her win last week, and three-time British Open winner Karrie Webb.
Unlike US Open winner Rory McIlroy, who spoke of his dislike for playing links golf in torrential downpours that often accompany British Opens, Webb relishes the challenge that Carnoustie will present. “Links golf...brings out a lot of imagination and creativity,” Webb said prior to this week’s competition. “Tip: bring your rain gear.”
First time at Carnoustie. Carnoustie will host the Women’s British Open for the first time this year. Morris redesigned a course that had welcomed golfers since the 1500s but came into being in 1850.
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