The most dominant player in women’s golf will be watching the Solheim Cup from afar next week with hopes she’ll someday be a part of a new international team competition.
World No. 1 Yani Tseng would like to see the LPGA create a women’s version of the Presidents Cup.
“I wish I could be playing in the Solheim Cup,” Tseng said. “I wish I could be part of the team, but I’m Asian. I’m hoping we can have something like the women’s Presidents Cup.”
The Presidents Cup pits the United States in men’s professional golf against an International team, basically players from around the world who aren’t qualified to play for the Europeans in the Ryder Cup. Tseng is from Taiwan.
Since the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings were created, the No. 1 player has never competed in the Solheim Cup. The Rolex rankings made their debut in 2006. Lorena Ochoa was No. 1 when the ’07 and ’09 Solheim Cups were staged.
As the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings stand this week, five of the top seven players aren’t eligible for the Solheim Cup.
“The Solheim Cup is a very interesting tournament,” Tseng said. “It looks like so much fun. You are playing for your country, your team, not yourself.
“Suzann Pettersen told me it’s the best tournament she’s ever played in. I’m envious. They have a points race to make the team. It’s a big deal. We have Ai Miyazo, Jiyai Shin and Karrie Webb who can’t play in the Solheim Cup, but we are very interested in something like that. We wish we had that as a goal.”
GolfChannel.com asked Tseng if she would lobby LPGA commissioner Mike Whan to create a women’s Presidents Cup.
“I will now,” Tseng said.