Lee-Anne Pace anticipating thorny lockdown with world number one Yani Tseng in China
Ladies European Tour (LET) is again warming up for its latest episode of Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open which will be boosting the world number one Yani Tseng on the field. Winner of last week’s Sunrise LPGA Championship in her home town in Taiwan, Tseng has flown down to China for the event co-sanctioned by Ladies European Tour (LET), Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT) and China LPGA (CLPGA). Tseng has won seven events on the LPGA this year including two major titles the LPGA Championship and the British Open and has done it with huge margins on most occasions. She was also nominated Player of the Year for a consecutive second year in her four-year long career.
“My dream right now is to get into the Hall of Fame because there are no Chinese players in there until now,” she said in a press conference.
In order to be inducted in the Hall of Fame, LPGA forges strict regulations and a player has to be playing on the tour for at least ten years to be eligible for the honour. Tseng has won 12 events on LPGA and has also been nominated for the first-ever Vare Trophy for low scoring average.
"I'm only four years into the US LPGA, I've got another six to go but that's not my main objective. What's immediate is to try and win all the tournaments I play, whether in China, Asia, Europe or in the US," Tseng added.
Also part of the field will be the defending champion, South African Lee-Anne Pace who is anticipating a thorny competition with the world number one. Pace won the title 12-months ago in a tight four-way playoff against Christel Boeljon, Julieta Granada and Hannah Jun. she also surfaced as the Henderson Money leader for the year 2010 and although she is still searching for a win in the current season, she is hopeful to retain the title this week.
“I wouldn’t play if I didn’t think I could win.” Pace said.
The young South African was also the defending champion at Sanya Ladies Open last week where she had to settle for a disappointing finish and watched Frances Bondad surge to the top for her maiden victory. Pace has won five times on LET and came close of lifting her sixth title on the tour this year, barely missing each opportunity. She posted six top-ten finishes and had to settle as runners up twice in Spain and Switzerland.
Pace, apparently, is a big fan of the windy Chinese courses and hopes to turn the tide to her favour this week.
“I really enjoy playing here and came a bit early to spend some time in Shanghai.” she added.
Pace is also great admirer of the rich Chinese culture and cuisine and although admitted that it is a bit cold for this time of the year, she is still hoping to make it big over the weekend. She posted rounds of 71, 72 and 68 at the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open last year to forge a Playoff at the last moment. She pulled in a glorious eagle at the first Playoff to remain locked till the last hole where she landed a birdie to grab the title.
The event will kick off on the scenic Suzhou International Golf Club in Suzhou, China, with some of the strong players from all over the world.
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