Golfers Michelle Wie (L) of the U.S., and compatriot Paula Creamer (R) pose with current world number one Yani Tseng of Taiwan during a photo call after a news conference ahead of the HSBC Women's Champions golf tournament in Singapore February 22, 2011. Wie was wearing a Korean traditional Hanbok costume while Creamer wore a Japanese kimono costume. REUTERS

SINGAPORE - Newly crowned world No 1 Tseng Yani has her eyes set on lifting a trophy for the fourth time in four weeks when the HSBC Women's Champions golf tournament tees off this week in Singapore.

The 22-year-old Taiwanese star is in imperious form, having won three straight tournaments in the past three weeks, including the season-opening LPGA Thailand event in Pattaya that ended on Sunday.

Before Thailand, she also chalked up consecutive wins on the Ladies European Tour in Australia and took top honors at a small pro event in Taiwan in January.

Tseng's double victories in Australia propelled her to the top spot in women's golf for the first time in her young career when the ranking list was released earlier this month.

"I feel lots of confidence ... I am looking forward to win this one and I will just keep working hard and do my best," said Tseng, who needs only a US Women's Open title to complete a career Grand Slam.

She has lifted the trophy at the 2008 LPGA Championship, the 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship and 2010 Women's British Open.

If she wins in July in Colorado Springs, she will be the youngest woman to complete a career Slam.

A victory at the $1.4 million Singapore event will also cement Tseng's grip on the No 1 ranking which has changed hands a few times since the retirement of Mexican Lorena Ochoa in May last year.

"Over the past six months, everybody had the chance to become world No 1. It was very challenging and it's fun to watch, fun to play and I learned lots of things from the other players," said Tseng.

"You just keep learning and keep working hard," she said at a news conference on Tuesday in Singapore.

Reigning US Women's Open champion Paula Creamer says the see-saw battle for the No 1 ranking was healthy for the game, keeping it interesting for the fans and players alike.

"Yani has been winning four tournaments in a row but at the same time, it just shows the strength of the LPGA Tour," the 24-year-old American said.

"I think we need that competition at the top, it keeps things very interesting.

"You just have to work that much harder and it's nice. I think that right now that women's golf needs rivalries."

Defending champion Ai Miyazato, who held the No 1 spot for 11 weeks last year, is looking for another successful outing at the tournament, which will be played at the Tanah Merah Country Club's par-72 course.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 02/24/2011 page23)