Yani Tseng won the Women’s British Open on Sunday to rack up her fifth major title at the age of 22, an achievement unparalleled by any golfer before her.The Taiwanese world number one shot a final round 69 at Carnoustie.Having trailed leader Caroline Masson by two strokes overnight, she finished four strokes ahead of Brittany Lang.Germany’s Masson had to settle for a share of fifth, alongside 2009 champion Catriona Matthew of Scotland, after carding a disastrous six-over par 78.
The tournament, which Tseng also won last year, replaced the du Maurier Classic as a major in 2001.Lang, of the United States, collected four birdies in the final eight holes to card an impressive five-under-par 67, while Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson – who won this event at Royal Birkdale in 2000, before it gained major status – was third on 11 under.Amy Yang of South Korea was fourth, a further shot back.
While Tseng became the first woman to defend the title since America’s Sherri Steinhauer in 1999, Masson was left to reflect on a heartbreaking last day as her dreams of glory vanished in a flurry of bogeys.They came at the second, third, seventh, 10th, 11th and 15th holes, while a double bogey at the par-four 12 had her slumping to eight over for the round, though she climbed back up the leaderboard with birdies on the last two holes.
Tseng, who earned a first prize of £239047, said: “It feels really good. I played so consistently today and I enjoyed the crowd here.”It’s so great making history on this golf course and I feel wonderful right now. It’s an honour to win the British Open again. I think I feel much more comfortable this year rather than last year and I have been learning from my mistakes.”I hope to keep winning. Next year there are another four majors and I will try and organise and keep working hard.”Regarding Masson’s troubles she added: “She will learn from her mistakes, every great player goes through that. It’s not a big deal. You try your best and I’ve lost lots of times too.” – BBC
