Tseng: From birdie machine to bogey machine
Veteran Webb's advice to proteges:
Even as women's golf salutes the stunning triumph of the Beyonce-loving Jang "jiggy" Ha Na at the HSBC Women's Champions, some of the names that were on the final page of the scoreboard would have raised many eyebrows.
At a time when a teenage sensation Lydia Ko is world No. 1, the experiences of Tseng Ya-ni, Michelle Wie and Ai Miyazato read like cautionary tales.
Tseng, who finished 61st out of the 62 golfers who completed the tournament at Sentosa Golf Club, was just 22 when she became the youngest player, male or female, to win five Major titles.
Now 27, the Taiwanese, who held the world No. 1 ranking for 109 weeks, is still searching for her first LPGA Tour title since she won the Kia Classic in March 2012.
She is now world No. 40.
Once known as a birdie machine, Tseng is now the bogey machine. She made 19 bogeys and four double-bogeys against one eagle and 13 birdies at Sentosa's Serapong course over the four days.
Just four spots and three strokes ahead of Tseng was Wie, who was 13 when she became the youngest player to make the cut at the US Women's Open in 2003.
The 26-year-old American did win a Major in 2014 but has otherwise only had a solid career, winning four LPGA titles.
Seven-time Major winner Karrie Webb, the world No. 32 who is into her 21st year as a pro, believes that former wunderkind often decline or plateau quickly because they have been too consumed by the sport they love.
The 41-year-old Australian, who finished joint-19th in Singapore by closing with a spectacular seven-under 65, said: "With the grind of the travel, the different hotels and stuff, it gets a little weary over the years.
"For us, golf is a full-time job, but I think it's even more so for the younger players who have not done anything else except golf.
"Golf is an all-consuming game and it's hard not to think about it.
"The young players may take a week off competing, but they may be still practising so it's almost impossible for them to get away from it all."
Miyazato was 25 when she became world No. 1 in 2010, the same year she won the HSBC Women's Champions at Tanah Merah's Garden course.
This time, she finished joint-50th, continuing the trend of failing to record a top-10 finish on the LPGA Tour since 2014. She is now world No. 154.
"In the past few years, I haven't had any major injuries, but I have had to deal with bouts of stomach flu and food poisoning," said the 30-year-old Japanese, who received a sponsor's invite for this edition.
"It is definitely tough to go week after week, year after year without winning or even being in the top 10, but I still love playing golf and this is my passion. I still have the drive to compete and I still go out there wanting to win.
"With the support of my family, friends and fans, I believe in my game which is why I'm not making big changes," she added.
"People have to understand that in a tournament, there can be more than 100 golfers but only one winner, and there are more and more talented players coming on Tour."
Webb, who has seen it all, urges the likes of Ko and the rest of the talented youngsters to take a leaf out of her book.
"For me, I would take some time off to take my mind away from golf. I have a boat in Florida and I would go fishing because I like being on the water," she said.
"You just have to find other interests.
"Take some time off, if you have to.
"Clear your mind, don't overthink it, start from scratch, that could be better than dragging your feet out to the course."
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