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Tseng Yani eyes global crown

Former world number one Tseng Yani hopes a chance to play for her country and inspiration from young LPGA stars can revive the form that won her five major titles.

Tseng leads Taiwan against the United States in Thursday’s opening matches at the $1.6 million International Crown, an eight-team showdown of four-woman squads for global bragging rights.

“It’s so exciting,” Tseng said. “I just feel very honoured to be representing Taiwan. Golf is very lonely but now we play as a team. It feels great. I just can’t wait to go on Thursday and try to kick some butt.” Pairs will meet in best-ball matches the first three days with five teams advancing to Sunday’s decisive singles matches.

Tseng and Phoebe Yao will face world number one Stacy Lewis and US teen star Lexi Thompson, who won her first major title at this year’s Kraft Nabisco Championship, in a pivotal first match.

“This week I feel more important. I want to play well for my country and for my teammates. I just think it’s even bigger this week,” Tseng said. “I just hope I don’t cry on the first tee when I hear my country’s song.”

Tseng, the LPGA Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011, has fallen to 53^rd in the world. She has not won a major since the 2011 Women’s British Open and not won any event since 2012. “I just keep putting too much pressure on myself,” Tseng said. “The result, the score, the ranking, I try to forget about that, but it’s just really hard. I don’t focus the right way, I just think too much. I kind of doubt myself a lot when I play in the tournament.