Tseng fights wind for share of lead

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This article was published 18/03/2012 (5265 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PHOENIX — Yani Tseng was a lot more concerned about the wind at tight Wildfire Golf Club than rain and cold today in the final round of the LPGA Founders Cup.

“If it’s windy on this golf course, it’s not easy. I mean the greens are pretty firm and the course is very narrow,” said Tseng, tied for the lead with Ai Miyazato after the third round Saturday.

“If it’s very windy tomorrow, you just want to keep it on the fairway, be patient all day and play smart. But I love the wind. Raining, it’s OK, so it’ll cool down a little bit.”

Actually, it will cool down at lot. After temperatures in the mid-80s on Thursday and Friday and high 70s Saturday, it is supposed to only get into the mid-50s today and the wind is expected to gust at 25 m.p.h.

“It could be you need to make some birdies out there, but then you need to be really patient, too,” Miyazato said. “But it doesn’t matter about the weather.”

In partly cloudy, breezy conditions Saturday on the desert layout, Miyazato birdied Nos. 14-16 and closed with two pars for a bogey-free 6-under 66 to match Tseng at 14 under. The Japanese player, ranked ninth in the world, has seven LPGA Tour victories.

“Definitely, it was more difficult than yesterday,” Miyazato said. “The wind makes more greens firmer, and I did have a long distance because some holes were really downwind. It was difficult to make birdies out there, but I was really patient and my putting was really good.”

Tseng had a chance to take the outright lead on the par-4 18th after hitting to 10 feet out of the right fairway bunker, but her birdie try slid past the left edge. The top-ranked Taiwanese star settled for a 67.

“I was a little disappointed,” Tseng said. “I played so good. I hit lots of good drives and hit lots of good shots, and I missed like three short birdie putts.”

Tseng successfully defended her LPGA Thailand title in February for her 13th LPGA Tour victory. She led the tour last season with seven victories — including major victories in the LPGA Championship and Women’s British Open — and finished the year with 12 worldwide titles.

Tseng and playing partners I.K. Kim and Meena Lee were warned about slow play on No. 10 and were timed on the 12th, disrupting Tseng’s rhythm.

“When you get timed and you go over time, you get a penalty,” Tseng said. “So in my mind I’m like, ‘I don’t want to get a penalty.’ “

“The three of us, we don’t play slow. We just got a couple of rulings there and tried to catch up, but I was just too rushed in my mind. … Just a little disappointed with myself. I should still take time when I play, take the time with my swing, instead of try to rush everything.”

Second-ranked Na Yeon Choi was a stroke back after a 67. The South Korean will join Miyazato and Tseng in the final group today.

— The Associated Press