Kuala Lumpur: Top ranked Yani Tseng will look to consolidate her world number one position with another strong performance during the second edition of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia from October 13-16. Tseng’s addition was another boost for the improved US$1.9 million event, which to date has attracted a high calibre field including the likes of Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis and Michelle Wie.
The 21-year-old Chinese Taipei native has enjoyed a sensational year so far, winning four LPGA tournaments including her second straight British Women’s Open title in July to rise to the pinnacle of the world rankings and in the process become the youngest ever golfer – male or female – to win five Majors. Yani also enjoys the distinction of being the fastest player in Tour history to reach US$2 million in career earnings, doing it in just over one year.
“I am very happy to confirm that I will be playing in this year’s Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2011. I am having a great year and have been playing very well, and I want to carry this form to Malaysia. The support from the fans in Asia is amazing and I hope to give them something that they can cheer for,” said Yani.
Sime Darby Berhad group chief operating officer Dato’ Abd Wahab Maskan said: “Yani is the world number one player and there can be no better recognition of the standing of our tournament than by having the best player in the world to be a part the competition. We are looking to attract as competitive a field as possible and put on the best show for all the fans locally and in the region.”
In another development, the countdown to the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia gets underway with a qualifying tournament at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club’s East Course next week. The qualifier from September 6-7 is open to all female professional or amateur golfers with a handicap of 2.0 or less and offers two invites to the tournament proper to the top two finishers. The next two best placed Malaysian players in the field will also be given starts at the prestigious tournament.
The qualifying tournament will see players from the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and host Malaysia.
