final shot
Q&A
Yani Tseng The three-time Major Champion, who was in Hong Kong last month for a client day with Lacoste, her long-time sponsor, talks to Alex Jenkins about her rise to the summit of the women's game, her friendship with Annika Sorenstam and her plans for the future
The last time you were at the Hong Kong Golf Club was six years ago when you won the girls' division at the Faldo Series International Trophy. A lot has changed since then obviously, including your name. Back then you were called Ruby... [Laughs]. Yes, that's right. There are only a few people who still know me as Ruby, including Rory McIlroy, who I met here at the Faldo Series. It's funny. I saw Rory at the Masters this year and he said, "Hi Ruby", which I hadn't heard in a long time. He's a great guy. What were you doing at the Masters? I just went to watch the players. I learn a lot from watching the men play golf. I love seeing how Rory and the others guys get around the course. It's the second time I've been, but I don't go inside the ropes. I walk around just like everyone else. I'd love to play Augusta National one day. Rory's great, but he hasn't won a single Major yet while you already have three... [Laughs]. I know. It's amazing. I never expected to win three Majors in my first three years on Tour. Never. But you know, that's not enough. I want to win more. I have one more to go [the US Women's Open, to complete a career grand slam]. I need to work hard. But it has been amazing, the whole thing. What's also amazing is the fact that you're still ranked number four in the world after winning two Majors this year. What's up with that? I've been as high as number two before but you're right, I'm now back at four. This year, despite winning three times, including two Majors, I've been a little up and down performance-wise. The top three [Ai Miyazato, Suzann Pettersen and Cristie Kerr] are so consistent. That's why it's always changing. It's really close and that makes it exciting. CONTINUED ON PAGE 108
The Yani File DATE OF BIRTH: 23 January, 1989 PLACE OF BIRTH: Taiwan TURNED PRO: 2008 MAJOR VICTORIES: 3 - 2010 British Open; 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship; 2008 LPGA Championship OTHER PROFESSIONAL VICTORIES: 7 - including 2010 Arkansas Championship and 2009 LPGA Corning Classic ACCOLADES: 2008 Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year (2008)
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Who do you hang out with on Tour? I hang out with Suzann Pettersen quite a lot. We've been trying to play tennis together but we've been sticking to golf. We practice a lot together. She's a member at Bay Hill and I'm at Lake Nona so we're nearby. I also spend time with some of the Korean players and I like eating Japanese food with Momoko Ueda. You played a couple of professional events with the men in Taiwan. Is that something you want to do more of – perhaps on the PGA Tour? I played with the men in order to learn. I can't beat them; I'd be very happy to make the cut but it's more of a learning experience than anything else. If I become world number one then there would be more of a chance of playing with the men in the future. You're considered one of the longest hitters on the LPGA. How far do you drive the ball and who are the top five biggest hitters on Tour? The top five are Sophie Gustafson, Maria Hjorth [pause]... Suzanne [Petterson] and me are pretty much the same. Brittany Lincicome is also long. I've only played once with Laura Davies and that day she was hitting it right, left, right, so I couldn't really tell how long she was [laughs]. With my driver I can carry the ball around 260 yards off the tee.
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Who was your idol when growing up? Annika. It's always been Annika Sorenstam. When I was much younger I told myself that one day I will play with her. That's what motivated me and that's why I'm on the LPGA Tour.
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Your goal for 2011 is presumably to reach number one? I'm going to be number one next year [laughs]. That's always been my goal. I'm so close. I was a bit disappointed after winning the Women's British Open that my ranking didn't change. I thought I would jump up. But I've been working so hard and I'm confident and prepared to do it. The other goal is to win the US Women's Open and get the career grand slam. That will make it a great year. You're from Taiwan but when you're playing do you feel like you're representing all Chinese people? Yes, I definitely do. I have always felt that way. When I first joined the LPGA the media asked me what my goal was. I told them, it's simple: become the first Chinese to win a Major. Then I won the McDonalds LPGA very soon afterwards. I was like, 'Jesus, what do I do now?' [Laughs]. But I want all Chinese people to be proud.
Major year (clockwise from top left): Tseng poses for a photo with a handful of Fanling caddies during the Lacoste Hong Kong VIP Golf Day; celebrating her Kraft Nabisco championship win, her third Major title, in the traditional manner; the 21-year-old in action during the final round at Mission Hills Country Club in California 108
You were in the news recently for being offered a huge amount of money for a sponsorship deal on the condition that you change your nationality to Chinese. You haven't taken up the offer but do you feel the pressure of representing so many people? [Pauses] I feel like I am Chinese. There are Chinese everywhere – in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, all round the world – and I'm very proud to be Chinese. There are three of us on the LPGA Tour now. My only wish is that I can encourage more Chinese people to play golf, to make golf more popular. I'd like to do for Chinese what Se Ri Pak did for Koreans.
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And now you live in her old house in Orlando... [Laughs]. Yeah, I know. It's unbelievable; when I was young this would be totally unimaginable. Last year I was looking for a place and she called me saying that I should come and look at her house, as she was moving. I was only looking for a small apartment – definitely not a huge place – and I always said I would never live in Orlando – I thought there would be a lot of bugs and alligators and the weather is not so good [laughs]. But the first time I stepped inside her home she and I both knew I was going to move in. So you and her must be good friends now? Yes, but I'm still very nervous when I meet her. She was and is my hero and I always worry I'm going to run out of things to say to her. But she's so friendly and has helped me a lot. She's one of the best players in history and she's been so kind. What about when you first joined the LPGA? Did any of the other players help you then? Lorena Ochoa was fantastic. She contacted me early on and taught me a lot. I asked her how she handled all the pressure and she told me that the most important thing is to organize everything that goes in your life outside the ropes first. Setting up a home, making sure your family is happy... that kind of thing. By doing that, she said, it means that when you're on the course golf is the only thing you have to focus on. You're not worrying about anything else. I cried when she announced her retirement. I cried when Annika retired too. I was so sad. What do you think you'd be doing if you didn't play golf? I love kids and would have loved to have worked as a kindergarten teacher, but I don't know if kids love me [laughs]. My dream is to build a school in Taiwan, one that will include golf and some other sports. I haven't figured it all out yet but it's something I'd really love to do in the future. HKGOLFER.COM