RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — The only time Yani Tseng wasn’t in control was when she took the traditional leap into the water at the 18th green after winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
With her mother, caddie and several friends also taking the plunge Sunday, Tseng jumped as far into the pond as she could, then remembered that she can’t swim.
“I told my caddie, ‘I don’t know how to swim. Can you help me to get on the top?’ It was a little scary,” she said.
Everything else about Tseng’s day had her smiling. She eagled the second hole and pulled ahead of a star-studded field with a 4-under-par 68 for her second major title.
Tseng, from Taiwan, finished at 13-under 275 at Mission Hills to hold off Suzann Pettersen by a stroke. Two of Tseng’s three LPGA Tour victories have been majors — she won the 2008 LPGA Championship as a rookie, beating Maria Hjorth in a four-hole playoff.
During her news conference, while bundled in a white robe after her plunge, a strong earthquake south of the U.S.-Mexico border rattled the Coachella Valley. Tseng reached up to steady her trophy, which was on a pedestal behind her.
“We have a lot in Taiwan, but this was big,” she said. “I like it. Cool. It’s like my big week. I hope nobody gets hurt.”
Tseng started the day tied with Pettersen (69), one stroke behind Karen Stupples. Tseng took control by chipping in for eagle on the 521- yard, par-5 second, then getting a birdie on the par-4 No. 3 that put her at 12 under.
“I had an eagle on the second hole, and I know today is going to be my day. I just kept telling myself, ‘Commit to the shot and keep my tempo right, and just keep smiling all 18 holes,’ ” she said.
“Calm” Kim wins playoff
HUMBLE, Texas — Shrugging off a bad putt on the 72nd hole, Anthony Kim parred the first hole of a playoff with Vaughn Taylor to win the Houston Open for his third PGA Tour title.
Kim and Taylor were tied at 12-under 276 after Kim missed a 6-foot par putt in regulation on the water-lined 18th hole to settle for a 2-under 70.
Not long ago, Kim said he would’ve mentally unraveled.
“Two years ago, that bag may have been in the water,” Kim said. “I might not have had clubs to go to the playoff. But I just feel calm out there. I feel no sense of urgency.”
Taylor finished with a 68. He needed a victory to qualify for the Masters in his hometown of Augusta, Ga.
“Hugely disappointed,” Taylor said. “It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Charl Schwartzel (67) and Graham DeLaet (68) finished a stroke back at 11 under. The Associated Press
