Taiwan's Yani Tseng world's 'hottest' player: Golf Digest

Taipei, March 4 (CNA) Yani Tseng of Taiwan has emerged as the hottest golf player in the world right now after tightening her hold on the Rolex world No. 1 ranking, according to an article posted on Golf Digest's website.

"Who's the hottest play in the world Right Now? It's not Luke Donald. It's not Martin Kaymer... It's not even Bernhard Langer. You're looking at the wrong tours, " wrote Roger Schiffman, managing editor of Golf Digest, in his comments dated March 3.

In his view, Tseng has become the hottest LPGA player to beat as she has won four of the last five events she has played in so far this year, and she finished third in the other one. And she quietly won two majors last year.

"She is suddenly filling the LPGA void left by the exodus of Annika Sorenstan and the Lorena Ochoa. Week-in and week-out, she has become the LPGA player to beat," Schiffman wrote.

Schiffman cited Ron Sirak, a Golf World magazine reporter who has been following Tseng's career for several years, as saying that Tseng is perhaps the strongest player physically on the LPGA Tour.

Sirak recalled watching Tseng playing with Sorenstam in the Women's British Open at Sunningdale in 2008 and afterward the Swedish golf superstar told him that Tseng would be the best player in women's golf in four years.

Tseng rose to the No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career after winning the ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia on Feb. 13.

It was her third victory in as many starts in 2011 and she extended her winning streak -- and the gap in the rankings with Jiyai Shin of South Korea -- a week later in Pattaya when she captured the Honda LPGA Thailand on Feb. 20.

Though her third-place finish in Singapore on Feb. 27 snapped her winning streak, she still finished strong and demonstrated she has the ability to stay in the top spot in the future.

Schiffman said in his comments that Tseng's first coach, Tony Kau, got her started on the right track in Taiwan at the age of 8.

He quoted Ernie Huan, who has been Tseng's host and mentor in the United States since 2001, as recounting: "I took her and some other girls to see the U.S. Women's Open at Pairie Dunes in 2002 (she was only 12 years old), and something clicked. She told me, 'I can beat some of these players.' I could tell she was different. She had an inner confidence, even then."

Tseng has had a number of teachers and influences in her young career. Her current teacher is Gary Gilchrist, who Schiffman said understands talent, potential and heart.

Gilchrist was cited as having said he knew Tseng was extraordinary when he first met her, then only 14, at the U.S. Public Links.

"I believe Yani is going to do something special in her life," he once told "Morning Drive" on the Golf Channel. "She's mentally prepared."

Vision54's Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott, who famously coached Sorenstam and have worked with Tseng, were also cited in Schiffman's comments.

Nilsson said the one thing that makes Tseng great is "she keeps things simple and uncomplicated."

"She knows she doesn't want to be in the Play Box more than five seconds. Annika always kept things simple and it helped her save energy to play well more often. Yani is the same way in that respect," Nilsson was quoted as saying.

According to Marriott, "another thing is that she knows how much down time there is in golf between shots, and she is aware and good at making sure she enjoys herself between shots."

Schiffman said Tseng also works periodically with Dave Stockton, aputting and short-game guru.

"It's clear when you see her on the greens that Stockton's philosophy is prevalent. There is a no-nonsense style: her mechanics are solid. She takes one look at her target and makes a decisive stroke before doubt can set in, her left wrist staying square to her line," Schiffman observed.

(Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel)