It wasn’t the first bet he’d lost to the world’s best golfer and it likely won’t be the last. So when Yani Tseng’s caddie Jason Hamilton paid up on Saturday after daring his golfer to put up a crooked number 3-under in the third round of the CME Group Titleholders, he probably just had his boss put it on his tab.
Tseng started the day at 2-over, well behind Na Yeon Choi’s pace-setting 7-under. With a Benjamin on the line, the 22-year-old, who’s seeking her 12th worldwide W of the year at this week’s LPGA Tour finale, doubled down on Hamilton’s bet, firing a 6-under 66 to climb back into contention.
"When I got out today, I told my caddie, ‘How about let's have a bet today?’" Tseng said to reporters following her round. "I've been playing terrible the first two days, how about we play [for $100] if I make 3 under, and he's like, 'Come on, world No. 1, you should play better than that.'"
And, of course, she did. Heading into Sunday’s final round, Tseng was just three shots back of third-round leaders Sandra Gal and Hee Young Park.
Perhaps the repetition of pocketing the big bucks as the tour’s leading money leader (Tseng had earned some $2.9 million in 2011 entering the Titleholders) is just so ho-hum for the tour’s repeat player of the year. Or maybe there’s something about those crisp 20s that Hamilton keeps waving around that fans Tseng’s competitive flames.
After last month’s five-shot win before adoring Tiger Woods (circa pre-11/09)-like crowds on her home turf at the Taiwan LPGA Championship, Tseng admitted to some fatigue before her next event, a joint Ladies European/Ladies Asian Golf Tour contest in China. Hamilton provided just the incentive to get Tseng back in the game -- $20 if she scored better than 12-under, and another $20 for two strokes lower than that.
There was a caveat: Tseng would pay up if she lost. "I had a bet with my caddie," Tseng told reporters prior to this week’s Titleholders. "If I lost I would pay him.
"So I think that's kind of that goal, for me to try to win $20, $40 that day," Tseng said, letting her competitors in on one of her secrets for success, "and that's why I can keep my focus on that golf course, on that tournament, instead of thinking the other things."
Ka-ching! Tseng took the prize money and cleaned out Hamilton as well, with a 16-under (200) for a 7-shot margin of victory over Pernilla Lindberg.
Oh, and that 20-foot eagle putt on the final hole of the third round of last year’s Women’s British Open, which Tseng eventually won by one stroke? Hamilton’s doing, again.
"I hit an 8-iron on my second shot, about 20 feet for eagle, and it was a right-to-left putt," Yang said during a press conference following the third round at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. "And before I get into green, my caddy told me, ‘Let's see if we can make this.’ And I was like, ‘You don't think I can make this?’
"So I feel pumped up," Tseng said. "I really wanted to make that."
No word on what was riding on that putt, but we’re guessing a few Andrew Jacksons changed hands.
Not to worry about Hamilton, though. Tseng admitted Saturday that she doesn’t always win their little side bets and when she does, she doesn’t always collect.
"One time I was winning $200," he said, "but I said just have a nice dinner with your fiancé."
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