RYU’S TERRIFIC TURNAROUND
What a turnaround it was for World No. 1 So Yeon Ryu. The world’s top player struggled on Saturday, carding a 3-over 75 and heading into the final round in a tied for 16th.
Sunday was a totally different day. Ryu seemingly floated around the golf course, carding a perfect bogey-free round of 7-under 65 to vault up the leaderboard and finish tied for third. The difference? It was all in her mind.
“I started to think about what is my problem, and then I found out my problem was thinking to myself, I have a problem,” said Ryu. “I just started to trust myself and I started to think about: Okay, I have a really good stroke, I have a good rhythm and I have a tempo. So let’s commit to it and roll it. That’s what I did today, and it worked out really well.”
TSENG MAKES CROWD-THRILLING CHARGE IN HOMETOWN EVENT
With scores of hometown fans following her every move, Yani Tseng enjoyed one of her best rounds in the season on Sunday. The 28-year-old, who grew up on the outskirts of New Taipei City, electrified the crowds with an eagle at the par-5 12th and birdies at the next two holes to pull into the top five. However, she stumbled down the stretch, playing the last five holes in 3 over to finish her 2-under round.
Nevertheless, the rush of putting together a solid round was like revisiting a long-lost friend – Tseng just plain missed it.
“I missed this feeling, and I really want to thank all the fans who came out today to give me great support,” said Tseng, who finished T17 overall, her best showing in her hometown tournament since she finished third in 2012. “I really appreciate it and I feel the nerves and I feel the pressure, but it was great pressure and good nerves. I haven’t had that for a while.”
QUICK HITS
Eun-Hee Ji is one of eight players to have played all seven Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championships; her best previous finish was T2 in 2015, where she held the lead after each of the first two rounds
Ji has gone 203 starts since her last LPGA victory, which came at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open Championship
Ji’s six-stroke margin of victory ties the largest of the 2017 season, joining the previous mark of six strokes set by Mirim Lee at the Kia Classic
The largest margin of victory in LPGA history is 14 strokes, by Cindy Mackey at the 1986 MasterCard International Pro-Am
So Yeon Ryu’s third-place finish is her best career showing at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship; her previous best finish was solo fifth in 2012
QUOTABLE
“I know I can win. It’s just a matter of time.”
- Yani Tseng, on her welcome return to form
“Sometimes it’s better not to know what’s going on, so I think it was really helpful.”
- So Yeon Ryu, on not seeing any leaderboards during her 7-under round
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