CUT BELOW: Former World No. 1 Yani Tseng (left and inset) hits out of a bunker on her way to missing the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open. (
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SOUTHAMPTON — Dominance is elusive in golf, although in recent years in the women’s game it has been the norm. But even in the women’s game, once dominance has been achieved, it becomes more and more fleeting.
Ask Yani Tseng.
At 22 years, six months and eight days old, Tseng became the youngest golfer — man or woman — to win five major championships (yes, that includes Tiger Woods). She held the world No. 1 ranking for 109 consecutive weeks from 2011 to 2013.
Yet today, as the third round of the U.S. Women’s Open begins at Sebonack Golf Club, Tseng will not be teeing it up because she missed the cut after a pedestrian performance that began with an opening-round 76 and ended with yesterday’s 75.
Tseng’s world ranking has dropped to No. 7 and she began this week ranked 22nd on the LPGA money list.
Inbee Park is the latest dominator in the game — as evidenced by the two-shot lead she takes into the weekend at Sebonic after shooting a 68 yesterday to stand at 9-under par, two shots better than I.K. Kim.
Since Annika Sorenstam arrived to the scene in 1993, women’s golf has had a dominant figure at the top. Sorenstam won a record 72 LPGA tournaments, including 10 major championships and was the Tiger Woods of women’s golf before Woods started dominating the men’s game.
Then along game Lorena Ochoa, who wrested the No. 1 world ranking from Sorenstam in 2007 and went on her run, winning 30 LPGA events, including two majors. Ochoa was a winning machine, capturing 18 victories from 2007 to 2009 before retiring at the top of her game to start a family.
Enter Tseng, who won her five majors between 2008 and 2011 and had a stranglehold on the No. 1 ranking for more than two years.
But Tseng’s results have tailed off in recent months and she lost her No. 1 ranking this year to Stacy Lewis, who rented it for a short period of time before Park took over the top spot.
The more Park, 24, continues to win, the more she looks bound for a run similar to the ones Sorenstam, Ochoa and Tseng were on. Then the question will be: How long can she sustain the dominance?
“We all have our window,’’ Sorenstam said. “Some people have a bigger window and some people have a smaller window. It’s hard to be at the top for a long period of time. Eventually your mind and your body says, ‘Hey, I’ve had it.’ ’’
Sorenstam cited Tseng as “a good example’’ to what she was referring.
“She came out there with a lot of talent, very hungry to be No. 1, got experience and pushed herself and became No. 1,’’ Sorenstam said. “Then she got to No. 1 and the pressure just elevated and she found it hard to balance Yani life and professional life. Then she found herself questioning, when she lost her No. 1 spot, ‘Is this really what I want?’’
Sorenstam said she felt Tseng was “almost relieved’’ when she lost the No. 1 ranking because “it gave her a little bit more breathing room.’’
She also suggested a tamed hunger to be No. 1 might be an issue for Tseng.
“Yani lives a very comfortable life and I think she’s wanting to enjoy it a little bit,’’ Sorenstam said. “I’ve seen her a little bit lately and I’ve talked to her, and she’s not as hungry for No. 1.’’
Tseng, 24, insists her desire remains strong, but in saying so she somewhat contradicts herself.
“I’m still hungry to get back to No. 1,’’ she said. “But now, world No. 1 is more like a bonus for me. I’m still young and I still have a long career to go. I’m not retired yet. I can achieve No. 1 again.’’
But Tseng went on to say that she feels “a little relieved’’ this year not being No. 1.
“When I was on top, it really gave me a lot of pressure,’’ she said. “Everybody wants to be in your shoes, but nobody knows how tough it is to be on top.’’
This is now the challenge for Park, who said she has studied Sorenstam, Ochoa and Tseng in an effort to figure out their respective formulas for sustained success.
“I think they’ve done such a great job of handling that pressure and playing under the pressure,’’ Park said. “I’m trying to do that.’’