Yani Tseng (traditional Chinese: 曾雅妮) (born 23 January 1989) is a Taiwanese professional golfer currently playing on the LPGA Tour. She is the youngest player, male or female, in the modern era to win four major championships, and is currently ranked number 1 in the Women's World Golf Rankings.

Amateur career

Tseng was the top-ranked amateur in Taiwan from 2004 to 2006. The highlight of her amateur career was winning the 2004 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, defeating Michelle Wie in the final, 1 up.

• 2002 Won – Callaway Junior World Golf Championships (Girls 13–14)
• 2004 2nd place – Callaway Junior World Golf Championships (Girls 15–17)
• 2004 Won – U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links
• 2005 Won – North and South Women's Amateur Golf Championship
• 2005 Semi-finalist – U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links
• 2005 2nd place – North and South Women's Amateur Golf Championship

Professional career

Tseng turned professional in January 2007. She competed on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour and won the DLF Women’s Indian Open. She also competed on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour, where she won the CN Canadian Women’s Tour at Vancouver Golf Club.

After finishing sixth in the final LPGA Qualifying Tournament in December 2007, Tseng earned full playing privileges on the LPGA Tour for 2008. In June 2008, she claimed her first LPGA tour victory – the LPGA Championship – to become the first player from Taiwan to win an LPGA major championship. At age 19, she was also the youngest player to win the LPGA Championship and the second-youngest player to win an LPGA major.

Tseng was named LPGA Rookie of the Year in 2008.

On 29 March 2009, Tseng became the fastest player in LPGA history to reach the $2 million mark in career earnings. She achieved this point in 32 events, spanning 1 year, 1 month, and 13 days. The previous record holder was Paula Creamer who reached the mark in 1 year, 4 months, and 15 days in 2006.

On 4 April 2010 Tseng won the first major championship of the LPGA season, the Kraft Nabisco Championship, by one stroke. She went on to win her second major of the year on 1 August 2010 by winning the Women's British Open by one stroke and is now the youngest woman in the modern era to win three major championships. LPGA founder Patty Berg was younger than Tseng when she won the 1939 Titleholders Championship. However, that was before the formation of the LPGA Tour in 1950 and the designation of official LPGA major tournaments.

In September 2010, Tseng was offered a five-year sponsorship deal from a Chinese company worth $T1 billion (US$25 million) with access to a luxury villa and private jets. Tseng rejected the offer because one of the requirements of the deal was that she switch her citizenship to the People's Republic of China.

In January 2011, Tseng defended her title at the Taifong Ladies Open on the LPGA of Taiwan Tour. Three weeks later she won the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open and a week later the ANZ RACV Ladies Masters, both events co-sponsored by the ALPG Tour and the Ladies European Tour. Her wins moved her into the number 1 position in the Women's World Golf Rankings. She won again the next week in the first tournament of the LPGA season, the Honda LPGA Thailand.

Personal life

Tseng lives in Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida in a house previously owned by LPGA great Annika Sörenstam. Tseng purchased the house from Sörenstam in April 2009.