Yani Tseng, ranked number one in the Rolex World Rankings, looks to defend her title this week at the 2011 Women's British Open. Tseng won the 2010 Open in impressive fashion to begin what would become a stretch of consecutive major victories for the rising golf star. If the 22-year old wins this week's tournament, she would have recorded half of the total major victories golfing legend Annika Sorenstam won in her storied career.
Golf Course and Recent Tournament History
The 2011 Women's British Open will take place at Scotland's historic Carnoustie Golf Links. This week's track layout will feature a 6,490 par-72 course that will test players looking for their share of a $2.5 million total purse. Old Tom Morris is the architect of the heralded golf club - completed in 1870 - and is the father of Young Tom Morris - the only other golfer in history to have won five career majors at an age younger than Tseng.
The winner's share of this week's major is $408,700, which will help cement most players in the top money leaders list with a victory. At Royal Birkdale in 2010, Yani Tseng made a 6-foot par putt on the final hole for a one-stroke victory over Katherine Hull. Since that time, Tseng has dominated the LPGA TOUR with three victories in 2011, including another major. She has held the number one ranking in the world for most of the season, as well.
First Round Paring and Past Winners
Tseng will be paired with American golfer Morgan Pressel and Japan's Mika Miyazato for the first round of the Women's British Open. The field at Carnoustie will also feature 22 of the top-23 ranked golfers in the world, including last week's Evian Masters champion Ai Miyazato, who jumped from No. 10 to No. 6 with her win last week, and three-time British Open winner Karrie Webb.
The British Open tournament became an official LPGA TOUR event in 1994 and was elevated to major status in 2001, replacing the du Maurier in Canada. Recent winners include Sherri Steinhauer, who won the 1998, 1999 and 2006 titles; Karrie Webb won in 1995, 1997 and 2002. the tournament will move to Royal Liverpool in 2012 followed by a return to Royal St. Andrews in 2013.
Source:
"USA Today"; At a Glace: This Week in Golf; accessed July 2011.
Adam Fonseca - Adam Fonseca is a certified Lean Six Sigma Change Agent and an accomplished golf writer. He currently works in health care ...
