Monday, August 01, 2011

Is Yani Tseng the next Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam?

Tiger_Woods_Bridgestone
The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is where Tiger Woods has decided to make his first comeback since opting out of the Players Championship after the first nine holes.

Woods has conjectured that he might also play golf in the Australian Open as well as the Presidents Cup. Just for attending the Australian Open, Woods is expected a huge payday thanks to their government.


Questions abound:

Is Woods feeling better, just tired of sitting on the sidelines or is he in it for the payday?

Why the Bridgestone? Confidence? Tiger has won the event seven times in fourteen years.

Are his injuries healed?

Who is...Why did...Tiger Woods choose childhood friend and head of his golf course design company, Bryon Bell, as his new caddie? Can he take the place of Steve Williams?


Another big golf story this week comes from the LPGA/LET and all of the ladies in the game. Meet Yani Tseng, number-one golfer on the LPGA Tour and considered by many to be the next Annika Sorenstam and/or the new Lorena Ochoa of the game.



yani_tseng_british_open
Yani Tseng holding the British Open trophy Zimbio.com



Watch out when Tseng is in the field; she is proving herself to be a force during any (major) golf tournament. With her come-from-behind win this weekend at the Women's British Open (she won last year's Open too), Yani has won four of the last eight major tournaments and five overall.

And, Yani Tseng is only twenty-two-years old!

Comparisons to Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam abound.

As a matter of fact, according to an article on ESPN.com, "Sorenstam was thirty-two when she won her fifth major title, at the 2003 LPGA Championship. Tiger Woods was twenty-four when he won his fifth, at the 2000 PGA.

What can Yani Tseng learn from Tiger Woods?

According to her first American golf instructor, Glen Daugherty (and this great article in GolfDigest.com), "Her place in history is likely dependent not only on her health, but also her putting."


Daugherty continued, "The sky's the limit for her (Yani), but you have to putt well consistently. That's the tool that bails players out."




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Tiger Woods photo: Wtam.com

3 comments:

rickyleepotts said...

Oh man, I am so glad that you wrote this blog. Below are my responses to this blog!

1. Tiger would never play for the pay day. Like the guy needs a pay day. He made over 75 million last year and didn't win a single tournament. Trust me, he is healthy. He has too much to risk coming back anything less than 100%.

2. I think you answered your own question there... he is a machine on that course, and he has won a ton. I mean, it makes sense. He also has verbally confirmed two events in Australia leading to the President's Cup.

3. If his injuries are NOT healed, it will be obvious.

4. The caddy switch was a GREAT move. Tiger needed to freshen up his image, and what better way that to pretty much start over? Great choice by Tiger.

And thank you so much for bringing up Yani! I am working with Whispering Pines Golf Club for the next The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship. Yani has played in The Spirit, and that was a HUGE win for her. I mean, she's 22. That is killer!

Anyway, thanks for making me think and making me comment. I love a writer that can make me comment. Cheers to you!

Stacy Solomon said...

Hi Ricky Lee,

First, thanks for your reply.

In response to your note, whereas I don't think Tiger Woods would play for a pay day, it sure helps to have the Australian government throw a few million his way.

Regarding his injury, Tiger Woods may think he is healed, and hopefully he will be by the time of the WGC-Bridgestone, but only time will tell.

With regards to Miss Tseng, she is a great competitor and worthy of high praise. I'm sure she will make herself and the LPGA, proud!

Cheers right back at you!

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