Pittsford, NY, United States

Yani Tseng is simply in a league of her own and at age 22, she's just getting started.

Tseng became the youngest player ever, male or female, to win four major championships when she routed the field Sunday at the Wegman's LPGA Championship.

She gave the rest of her challengers hope for about 10 minutes when she bogeyed her first hole of the day at Locust Hill. But after that, it was near-perfection as she bounced back with birdies at second, third and fourth holes and slammed the door on the hopes of the other contestants.

It was a day-long march by Tseng, a coronation of sorts. She has won her four major titles quicker than Patty Berg, Mickey Wright, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. There will now be projections for the all-time LPGA major number of 15 held by Berg.

Tseng shot a final round 66 that got her to 19-under par, 269, the same number shot last year by Cristie Kerr. Kerr won by 12 shots, Tseng by 10.

Some of the best players in the world tried to catch her but she buried them.

Morgan Pressel birdied the 17th hole to get to nine-under par and finish solo second at 279.

Defending champion Kerr closed with a 69 but found herself 11 back at eight-under par with Suzann Pettersen and Paula Creamer. Pettersen had the day's second-best round, a 67 while Creamer shot 69.

Cindy LaCrosse, who started the day in second place, struggled in her pairing with Tseng and shot a 77 that left her in a tie for 14th at three-under par, 285.

Tseng admitted afterwards that she couldn't remember playing better than she had the past four days. "I don't think so," she said, "especially at a major."

Tseng also said she thought about the number 20, as in 20-under par, a score no player has ever reached in a major. "I was thinking about it after nine holes," she said. "But I just kept playing. After that bogey at the first hole, I said "it's only the first hole" and I just tried to stay patient."

Her patience yielded eight birdies over the final 17 holes and the outcome was never in doubt.

"If she hits fairways, she's very aggressive and makes a lot of birdies," said Pettersen of Tseng.

Tseng will now turn her attention to the upcoming U.S. Open, the only major she hasn't won.

"I'm going home for a week," she said. "I'll just go talk to Annika (Sorenstam) and get some tips."

Tseng will be the favorite in Colorado Springs.

"I'll have a good chance," she predicted. "Especially the way I'm playing now."

 

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