Tiger Woods missed the cut. So did Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, and even golf’s newest hero, Bubba Watson.
LPGA Tour star and hottest golfer on the planet, Yani Tseng, however, joins a field of luminaries like NFL wonder boy Tim Tebow, NBA sensation Jeremy Lin, and even political rivals Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton, who made it to Time Magazine’s list of The 100 Most Influential People in the World. For sure, Golf Magazine may have bungled the whole “Player of the Year” thing in 2011, but Time recognized that the youngest golfer to win five major championships and the winner of three of her first six starts in 2012 deserves all the kudos that come her way -- and then some.
Tseng’s friend and role model, World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, authored the tribute to the 23-year-old, 15-time tour winner, according to Golf Digest.
“A rare talent with the ability to energize a new generation of LPGA fans, Yani will get even better as she gains experience,” Sorenstam wrote. “Her potential both as a player and as an ambassador for the game is limitless. While there's no way of knowing how many records she'll shatter, Yani's blend of skill, grace and work ethic will be a powerful force on the LPGA tour for years to come."
While noting that Tseng’s “dominance is unquestionable,” Time also observed that “the way she wins” was “even more impressive” than the hardware in her trophy case, scoring average, and top ranking.
“Yani's infectious smile and genuine enthusiasm for golf create an aura that grabs the attention of galleries and living rooms, captivating even casual sports fans,” according to Time. “People know they're witnessing greatness.”
Your serve, Golf Magazine.