Choi Withstands Tseng Charge to Win in Malaysia

A great result for Choi.

NA YEON CHOI, WHO BEGAN the final round of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia with a one-stroke lead on Brittany Lang, wasn’t shaking in her golf spikes until the back nine. That’s when Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng, the winner of six LPGA events this season (including the last two), made a run at the trophy.

“I wasn’t nervous when I started today,” said Choi, “but starting getting nervous on 15 when I hear that Yani got birdie, birdie.”

Tseng had a number in mind—65. “Today before I’m going to play, I tell myself, just shoot 6 under and finish 14 under,” she said. That’s exactly what Tseng did.

But Choi didn’t wilt under the pressure of Tseng’s charge. The South Korean got to 14 under with a birdie on the 15th. Then she birdied the par-3 17th to take a one-stroke lead and parred the final hole for a 68 that secured the victory.

“I was so nervous,” Choi admitted, “but I had a great result. So it feels amazing.” It was Choi’s first win this season and fifth career title.

Tseng, golf’s new dominant player, increased her 2011 winnings to $2,563,269. I probably don’t need to tell you that’s a bundle of money, especially considering the LPGA Tour purses as compared to the PGA Tour gravy train.

Next up is this week’s Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship.

−The Armchair Golfer

(Photo credit: Keith Allison, Flickr, Creative Commons license)