Finding the Tempo
Yani Tseng opened the day just one shot back of the lead but was quickly well off of it after bogeys on two of her first three holes. But her caddie mentioned that she was getting a little quick on the backswing and from there she was on fire, playing the last 15 holes in 5-under-par to get to within two shots of the lead entering the weekend.
“When I start tempo was a little off,” Tseng said. “But after the three holes I tell myself to get the tempo back,” Tseng said. “Everything is good. Putting is getting better, and then I finish with birdie out of like the last four holes. So it’s always a good sign to make lots of birdies out there.
Tseng finished as the runner-up at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic a month and half ago, watching as a birdie putt at the last rolled excruciatingly past. But a return to contention is never a bad sign, and she’s excited to be back in the thick of it again this week.
“Just feel very comfortable,” Tseng said. “Just very happy to be back in position, see my name on the first page of the leaderboard.”
Feeling At Home In The Final Group
Xi Yu Lin couldn’t help but feel comfortable on the course Friday. She got to speak in her native language. That’s because Yani Tseng was in her group, so throughout the day they were able to speak in mandarin. It’s little things like that that make a second-year player feel comfortable in contention.
“It is also my first time playing with her. Yeah, it’s good playing with someone speak Chinese as well,” Lin said. “We had a really good conversation and we all played really well." Tseng got to know Lin a bit a year ago but says the two have become close friends in Lin’s second year on Tour.
“Yeah, I mean she is one of my good friends on Tour. She’s a great kid. Very sweet,” Tseng said. “She played some great golf out there, too. It’s great to see the Chinese girl coming out more on the Tour.”
Back To The Winner's Circle
It’s only been a little over two months since Inbee Park won her second major of the year, the RICOH Women’s British Open, but in the time since, Lydia Ko’s made a charge at her standing atop the game with wins at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and Evian Championship. Needless to say, Park wants back in the winner’s circle and wants to keep Ko at bay when it comes to all of the season-ending awards.
“It has only been a couple months but it has definitely felt longer,” Park said. “Everybody is always wanting to win, and that’s what I’m trying to play for.”
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