Yani Tseng wins Women's British Open by 4 strokes

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(Free-Press-Release.com) August 2, 2011 --
Yani Tseng won the Women's British Open for the second straight year, beating Brittany Lang by four strokes with Mizuno MP-33 Steel Irons Sunday and becoming the youngest woman to capture a fifth major title.

The 22-year-old top-ranked Taiwanese shot a 3-under 69 to finish at 16-under 272. She trailed third-round leader Caroline Masson of Germany by two strokes entering the final round. Masson closed with a 78 to finish tied for fifth.

"It's very special to win here at Carnoustie where so many great players have made history," said Tseng, who also won the LPGA Championship last month. "I was a little nervous before the start, but then I hit a good tee shot and I felt good. I feel that, having been in this position in a major a few times before, I am getting more mature and can handle the pressure better, especially with my Mizuno MP-33 Steel Irons."

Lang shot a 67 to finish at 276, one ahead of Sweden's Sophie Gustafson, who had a final round 68. South Korea's Amy Yang had a 67 and was fourth.

Lang was tied for sixth entering the final day, eight behind Masson. She picked up just one stroke by the turn but the American bagged four birdies at Nos. 11, 12, 14 and 17.

"I played great today," Lang said. "I made some really big par putts early on and from then on played fairly flawless golf.

Tseng dropped a shot at the first hole with three putts, missing a 3-footer for par. She birdied the third with a pitching wedge to 2 feet and the long sixth with a chip to 5 feet to be out in 35.

Playing alongside Masson, who was out in 39, Tseng had taken a firm grip by the turn. She was just short of the green off the tee at the par-4 11th and took two putts for a birdie, but then dropped a shot at two straight holes. She hit an 8-iron over the back of the green at 12 and then hit the pin off the tee on the short 13th but her ball stopped at the edge of a bunker. She stood in the sand to play her second shot.

Tseng birdied the long 14th and finished with two birdies, holing from 20 feet on the 17th and hitting a majestic 9-iron to 3 feet at the last.

"It's so great making history on this golf course and I feel wonderful right now," Tseng said. "It feels really good and I hope to keep winning. Next year there are another four majors and I will try and organize and keep working hard."

Masson also ended with two birdies but had fallen into the pack, dropping four shots in the first three holes on the way home. She finished at 9 under alongside home favorite Catriona Matthew, the 2009 champion, who had a double-bogey 6 on the final hole after pulling her second shot to the green out of bounds.

"She will learn from her mistakes and every great player goes through that," Tseng told the Press Association. "It's not a big deal. You try your best and I've lost lots of times too."

Sweden's Anna Nordqvist tied for seventh at 280 with South Koreans Sun Young Yoo, Na Yeon Choi and Inbee Pak.