RICOH Women’s British Open
Carnoustie Golf Links
Carnoustie, Scotland
July 31, 2011
Final-round notes and interviews

Yani Tseng -16, Rolex Rankings No. 1
Brittany Lang -12, Rolex Rankings No. 58
Catriona Matthew -9, Rolex Rankings No. 35

Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng successfully defended her title at the RICOH Women’s British Open, shooting a final-round 69 at the storied Carnoustie Golf Links to take a four-stroke victory over Brittany Lang. At 22 years, 6 months, 8 days, Tseng becomes the youngest golfer in history to win five career major titles. Tiger Woods had previously held that distinction, having won his fifth major at 24 years, 7 months.

Tseng entered Sunday’s final round trailing LET rookie Caroline Masson of Germany by two strokes. After a bogey on the opening hole dropped her to three strokes back, Tseng made a birdie on No. 3 while Masson recorded her second straight bogey to put them tied atop the leadboard at 13-under-par. A birdie on the sixth gave Tseng the outright lead for the first time in the championship and from there, she managed to hang steady while Masson faltered on the back side. Tseng book ended back-to-back bogeys on No. 12 and 13 with birdies on 11 and 14. She headed to the 18th hole with a three-shot lead and capped off her impressive victory with a birdie on the famous closing hole at Carnoustie.

It’s the first time that Tseng, who won the 2010 RICOH Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale, has been able to successfully defend a tournament title.

Prior to becoming the youngest golfer to five majors, Tseng already had the distinction of being the youngest player in LPGA history to win four majors — capturing the 2008 LPGA Championship, 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship, the 2010 RICOH Women’s British Open and the 2011 Wegmans LPGA Championship. All that’s currently lacking from Tseng’s impressive resume in major championships is a U.S. Women’s Open victory.

Youngest golfers to win five majors:
Yani Tseng        ’11 Women’s British Open                22 years, 6 months
Tiger Woods      ’00 PGA Championship                    24 years, 7 months
Patty Berg          ’43 Women’s Western Open            25 years, 4 months,
Louise Suggs     ’49 U.S. Women’s Open                  26 years, 18 days    
Jack Nicklaus     ’66 Masters                                      26 years, 2 months  
Karrie Webb      ’01 U.S. Women’s Open                   26 years, 6 months
Mickey Wright   ’61 LPGA Championship                   26 years, 8 months
Bobby Jones    ’29 U.S. Open             &

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