This week it is all about...Tiffany Joh
Every week throughout 2012, we will spotlight one LPGA player and provide an in depth look into her life -- both on the course and off of it. Keep coming back each day to learn more about Tiffany Joh.
All Jokes Aside, Tiffany Joh Wants To Be A Contender
By Lisa D. Mickey
Just mention the name of Tiffany Joh and people smile.
Her fellow LPGA Tour members talk about her solid playing skills and penchant for producing entertaining videos. Her fans describe her approachability and willingness to chat and sign their proffered stuff. The media marvels at her intelligence and highly quotable commentary. And her former college teammates gush about how much fun she brought to their team.
The good news is, all of this is true.
Joh borders on comic genius when it comes to writing songs, singing, rapping, playing musical instruments and producing her own videos, which have a regular following on YouTube. Her creativity is off the charts for a professional athlete and her likeability meter makes her a player in demand among fans and media alike.
But while Joh moved the needle this year during her rookie season for reasons off the course, when pressed for an answer, the San Diego native admits she has one key focus on the LPGA Tour.
“The main reason we’re all out here is to be No. 1 in the world at some point,” said Joh, who is celebrating her 25th birthday on Dec. 8. “Sure, I want to be a contender, but maybe the other things I do [off course] is my way of taking off a little bit of pressure and just enjoying what I do. I don’t really mind if nobody takes me seriously.” More >>
2012 STATISTICS
Pre-tournament notes and interviews
Yani Tseng, Rolex Rankings No. 1 and winner of last week's Honda LPGA Thailand Karrie Webb, Rolex Rankings No. 19 and 2011 HSBC Women's Champions winner Ai Miyazato, Rolex Rankings No. 9 and 2010 HSBC Women's Champions winner Paula Creamer, Rolex Rankings No. 6
The next “Champion of Champions” will be crowned on Sunday at the fifth-annual HSBC Women's Champions at Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore. Each of the four prior winners of the $1.4 million tournament has come from the upper echelon of the women's professional game. At the inaugural event in 2008, then-Rolex Rankings No. 1 Lorena Ochoa won the event by a whopping 11 strokes over Annika Sorenstam and set the tournament record with a 7-under-par 65 in the second round. In 2009, South Korea's Jiyai Shin won the tournament by two strokes and went on to top the LPGA Official Money List and win the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award at season's end. Shin would go on to hold the Rolex Rankings No. 1 spot in 2010 following Ochoa's retirement. A year later, Ai Miyazato became the first player since 1966 to win consecutive season-opening events with her win at the HSBC Women's Champions and went on to hold the Rolex Rankings No. 1 spot for 11 weeks later in the season. Last season, LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Karrie Webb became the fourth high-profile winner in Singapore with her 37th career LPGA victory at the HSBC Women's Champions. Webb went on to earn her 38th victory at the season's next event.
Karrie Webb is set to defend her HSBC title this week following a strong showing in Thailand. Last week, the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member tied for ninth and was in the hunt on Sunday until a quadruple-bogey nine at the seventh hole knocked her out of contention. Despite the mishap, Webb remains positive about the way her game is progressing this season. “I was pleased with the way I played last week, although I had one bad hole that set me back a bit,” said Webb. “I had a chance until then and that's all I can really ask for, but I probably didn't even expect that much after the way I played in Australia. It was a good improvement.”
Webb admitted today that her victory at last year's HSBC Women's Champions was more about mental toughness than flawless play. “Sometimes when you don't win for a long time, you think you have to be at 100 percent to win,” she said. “But it wasn't the perfect Karrie Webb golf game. It was huge for me mentally to know that I don't have to be at 100 percent to win.” In addition to holding off Chie Arimura, Webb also defeated Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng by three shots en route to her “Champion of Champions” designation last year.
Following her win at last week's Honda LPGA Thailand, Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng returns to Singapore in hopes of adding an HSBC title to her ever-growing résumé. The 23-year-old now boasts 13 career LPGA victories – including eight in the last 12 months – and leads the race for a third-consecutive Rolex Player of the Year award. “Last week, it was a good start for me and I think that's very important for me that I know I can keep winning tournaments, keep playing good golf and have mental set up and mentally be to
Webb, Yoo, and Choi ready for great finish at HSBC Women's Champions
LPGA.com caught up with Karrie Webb, Sun Young Yoo, and Na Yeon Choi to discuss how Tanah Merah Country Club suits their games. They've all had top finishes at the HSBC Women's Champions in the past and look to build upon that this year.
Karrie Webb
LPGA: Do you do anything different when you’re the defending champion? Webb: I never really change things when I'm defending champion. I like defending because I have great memories from the year before when I won. LPGA: What is the key to playing well at Tanah Merah? Webb: The key to playing Tanah Merah is to keep the bogeys off your card and to stay patient on the greens. LPGA: How does it match with your game? Webb: Apart from winning at Tanah Merah last year, I have faired pretty well over the years. I'm not sure what exactly matches up with my game but I think that it's the start of the year which I always look forward to and I have a little more control of my emotions than I tend to do later in the year. LPGA: What are your favorite holes? Webb: I think the par 3's 8 and 11 are challenging holes that somedays require a lot of courage to hit a shot close to the pin. LPGA: What are you looking forward to that week? Webb: I am looking forward to defending and hopefully having another crack at holding up the HSBC Women's Champions trophy. LPGA: What are your favorite things to do while in Singapore? Webb: I love the multi-cultural nature of Singapore. I love all sorts of Asian food so I look forward to dinner every night. A few of my favorites are Indian, Middle-Eastern foods as well as a Singapore local dish of Chilli Crab!
Sun Young Yoo
LPGA: What is the key to playing well at Tanah Merah? Yoo: My key on that golf course is my driver. Those fairways are tight, so I'm trying not to get scared of that. I'm just trying to make some confidence swings out there.
LPGA: How does it match with your game? Yoo: It matchs with my game pretty good I think because I'm good at hitting irons and their greens are not that big. Maybe some are but they are not huge so I don't really worry about hitting greens on that course.
LPGA: What are your favorite holes? Yoo: My favorite holes I would say 17 and 18. They are good finishing holes and the fairways are tight with some good distance as well. Anything can happen on the last two holes. It's fun to play.
LPGA: What are your favorite things to do while in Singapore? Yoo: Everytime I'm over there the weather is so hot, so I'm staying in my hotel room or going down to the shopping mall to look around. I try to save my energy and stay cool!
Na Yeon Choi
LPGA: What is the key to playing well at Tanah Merah? Choi: I feel the key to playing well at Tanah Merah is driving the ball well and staying cool and hydrated. The finishing holes (16,17,18) are key to playing well there. The lead can really change over those holes. You really need to keep your focus there.
LPGA: How does it match with your game? Choi: I think the course is difficult. Players who can fade the ball off the tee have an advantage out there. For me, I have to play very conservatively and concentrate on making pars.
LPGA: What are your favorite holes? Choi: My favorite hole is number nine because it is a good chance to make birdie. From the tee it really fits my eye.
LPGA: What are you looking forward to that week? Choi: I am lookin
HSBC Women's Champions 2012 Tournament Preview
The Tanah Merah Country Club welcomes back the reigning "Champion of Champions" Karrie Webb after an outstanding finish last season when she defeated JLPGA star Chie Arimura by one stroke with a four-day tally of 13-under-par 275. It is the second best finish in tournament history behind Lorena Ochoa's 20-under-par 268 in 2008. This win marked her 37th victory in her 16-year career and is only the second player to cross the $16 million mark in career earnings (Annika Storenstam). Webb went on to win her 38th win at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup just weeks after.
Thirty of the top 30 players from the 2011 LPGA Official Money List will tee it up this week including Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng and past champions Jiyai Shin, Ai Miyazato and Karrie Webb.
Tseng is coming off her 13th LPGA win last weekend at the Honda LPGA Thailand, finishing just one stroke ahead of Ai Miyazato. At the 2011 HSBC Women's Champions, Tseng placed third after falling just three strokes behind Webb's pace.
Shin is looking for her first LPGA victory since 2010 (Mizuno Classic and Evian Masters.) She won her first LPGA event as a member at the 2009 HSBC Women's Champions and went on to record two more victories that season at the Wegmans LPGA and the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship.
Rolex Rankings No. 9 Miyazato will also be on the "must watch" list for the 2012 season after finishing in second at the Honda LPGA Thailand last weekend. She was the 2010 "Champion of Champions" and recorded four other victories that season.
Other top competitors likely to breakout this weekend include Amy Yang, Jimin Kang, ShanShan Feng, Amanda Blumenherst, Stacy Lewis, Jenny Shin, and Karrie Webb, who all finished in the top 10 at the Honda LPGA Thailand last weekend.
Quick 18 with Jacqui Concolino
1. If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take with you?
A lighter, iPhone, a cooking pot.
2. If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say to them?
Ben Hogan - "You are the definition of perseverance."
3. If you could eliminate one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be and why?
Driving Time - it consumes so much of the day.
4. Tell us something you hate doing. Why?
Sitting in traffic - need I say more?
5. If you could have an unlimited storage of one thing, what would it be?
Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.
6. If you could have a luncheon with any three people (real or fictitious/from any time period, dead or alive), which three people would you choose and why?
Ghandi, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods - to be able to find out the winning mentality of Ali and Tiger, and have the perspective of Ghandi's life.
7. If given a complete freedom to start afresh, what profession would you choose and why?
Women's Hockey and play on the USA Olympic Team. Cammi Granato was one of my heroes.
8. If given a choice to skip work for a day, how would you spend the entire day?
Hang out with friends and relax, go to the beach.
9. If you were granted three wishes, what would you ask for?
To be taller, hit the ball like Ben Hogan, putt like Crenshaw.
10. Name two things you consider yourself to be really good at?
Watching sports, drinking beer, and arguing about New York teams.
11. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Italy.
12. What's your favorite midnight snack?
Cookies and milk.
13. Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Major championship winner on the LPGA Tour.
14. What scares you the most and why?
Planes - I have no clue how something that big and heavy gets airborne.
15. As a child, what did you wish to become when you grew up?
USA Olympic Soccer Team member (Mia Hamm).
16. If you had one word to describe yourself, what would it be?
Perseverance.
17. If I came to your home and looked inside the refrigerator, what would I find?
Greek yogurt, soy milk, peanut butter, protein drinks.
18. What movie do you watch again and again?
Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
What to watch for this week at HSBC Women's Champions 2012
She's Back!
After a tied for eighth finish in the season-opening Women's Australia Open and a slow start last week at the Honda LPGA Thailand, Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng found a way to wipe away the off-season rust and get back to her winning ways. Despite carding a 73 in the first round in Thailand, Tseng posted back-to-back rounds of 65 and carded a final round 66 to defend her title and earn her first victory of the season
In her post round press conference, Tseng admitted the pressure of repeating greatness this year was getting to her. "I feel much more pressure coming into this year. Last year when I started, I was nothing, I was just in the top-five in the world but I don't have 12 wins or World No. 1 title. After last year, I have World No. 1 and I had 12 wins and that pressure keeps going on and on." Tseng has no pressure of repeating this week, as she has yet to add the HSBC Women's Champions to her list of career victories. She looks to improve on solid past performances in Singapore which include two top-three finishes (T3- 2010 and third-2011) and T11 in 2009.
Karrie Webb
Defending champion and Rolex Rankings No. 19 Karrie Webb is coming off her first top-10 finish of the season, finishing ninth in last week's Honda LPGA Thailand, which included a second-round hole-in-one (fifth of her career). In her career, Webb has performed well in Singapore and finished in the top-20 each year of the tournament's history, beginning in 2008 (T5- 2008, T9- 2009, T19- 2010).
In Good Company
The HSBC Women's Champions has consistently served as a winning stop for the LPGA's top players as each of the past four champions have claimed the Rolex Rankings No. 1 position at some point in their careers. Lorena Ochoa (2008), Jiyai Shin (2009), Ai Miyazato (2010), and Karrie Webb (2011) have all hoisted the trophy in Singapore and held the world's top spot.
The HSBC Women's Champions was Shin's first win as an official LPGA member and held on to the No. 1 ranking for 16 weeks in 2010. Following Miyazato's victory in 2010, the Japan native moved into the world's top ranking for an 11-week span. Both are coming off strong finishes in Thailand as they filled out the top-three in last week's event (Shin finished third at 17-under and Miyazato second at 18-under).
The only players in the field this week without an HSBC victory but a No. 1 world ranking on their resume: Yani Tseng and Cristie Kerr.
Consistent Stacy Lewis
Stacy Lewis is off to the best start of her five-year career in 2012 and is the only player to record consecutive top-five finishes in the season's first two events. Lewis tied for second and was part of the six-player sudden-death playoff at the Women's Australian Open where she shot rounds of 69, 73, 77, 70, qualifying her for the season-ending CME Group Titleholders event in November. She took her momentum to Thailand where she finished 10-under par, good for a tied for fifth finish. Lewis looks to improve on her last year's performance in Singapore (T9) and to earn her first victory of 2012.
No Red, White, and Blue
In its four-year history, no American has captured the HSBC Women's Champions title, but several players in the field this week representing the USA
Victoria Tanco - Rookie Blog One
Hi everyone! First of all I want to introduce myself. My name is Victoria Tanco, I am from Argentina and I am 17 years old (going to be 18 soon) I got my LPGA tour card last year. It was a one of my dreams come true. I was so thrilled after making the putt for birdie on the last hole to make it by one. I couldn’t express my happiness at that moment. This is going to be a whole new world for me this year being a rookie.
It started first in January moving to Bradenton, Florida all by myself so I can travel easily to tournaments and have my coach Kevin Collins closer to me. The only bad thing is that my parents couldn’t come with me. I have one brother he is 19 and is studying in college so it’s better that they are there while he is studying. I am going to miss them all and my four dogs too.
I have just finished my first LPGA tournament as a professional. I travel with my caddie Ruben Yorio. He won the Masters with Angel Cabrera! Isn’t that amazing……It’s great to have him on my bag. I really enjoyed the tournament, it was a great place to start the season. Royal Melbourne is such a challenging course, and while watching it on tv during the Presidents cup I couldn’t believe I was going to make my debut there. I loved everything from Australia, not just the unbelievable course but the city which made me feel like home, it’s very similar to Buenos Aires and the people were very welcoming and kind.
I didn’t play my best during the event, the fast greens and the windy conditions got me a little bit especially on the third day. I finished T40 but overall a good week. I gained a lot of experience and learned a lot. I want to congratulate Jessica for winning, it was such an awesome finish. We live 5 minutes away from each other and we’ve known each other for a long time. I’m very happy for her. I am back in Florida now I hope everyone is enjoying their time as much as I am. Bye for now!
Learn more about Victoria Tanco>>
Read more 2012 Rookie Blogs >>
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Players kick off the HSBC Women's Champions
Four of the LPGA’s top players chose to “Say It With Flowers” at the launch of the fifth annual HSBC Women’s Champions at Singapore Botanic Gardens on Tuesday. Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng, fresh off her Honda LPGA Thailand 2012 victory, was joined by Suzann Pettersen, Michelle Wie and defending HSBC champ Karrie Webb in completing a world map with orchids and ribbon. The quartet then exchanged Singapore’s national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid, with each other to symbolize the way the HSBC event brings the best talent from all over the world to compete in the Lion City. HSBC Singapore CEO Alex Hungate, HSBC Group Head of Sponsorship Giles Morgan and LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan also took part in the press conference.