LPGA: Yani Tseng Set to Defend in Arkansas

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*As the steamy summer weather settles into the southeast, the LPGA heads toward Arkansas for the Walmart NW Arkansas Presented by P&G. Yani Tseng is the defending champion of the tournament which is only in its fifth year but is quickly becoming a popular tour spot. The Pinnacle Country Club in Rodgers, Ark will play host to the ladies in the 54-hole tournament, which serves as the final warm-up before the U.S. Open next week in Wisconsin. Playing to 6,274 yards with a purse of $2 million, first place receiving $300,000. 

*Brittany Lang broke through for her first LPGA title last weekend at the Manulife LPGA Classic in Waterloo, Canada. Lang had an outstanding amateur career which included winning six times while at Duke and claiming the 2005 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. She left college after two years and earned her way to the LPGA through qualifying school. She has had a very steady career earning over $3 million and playing on two Solheim Cup Teams. The only thing that eluded her up until a few days ago was a win and she earned it by grinding out a final round 67 to take part in a four-way playoff. 

"I can't believe it took me seven years to win a tournament out here," Lang said after the play-off win. "I hadn't been that good under pressure and I'm getting better, and I'm so thankful that it happened this week and I'll only get stronger from here."

The win moved Lang up to No. 24 in the Rolex World Rankings and Lang was also notably the first female player from Duke to record an LPGA victory. 

*Although Stacy Lewis didn't come away with the win last weekend in Waterloo, she came really close. She fired a 64 on Sunday to leave her one shot out of the playoff and ultimately tied for fifth. Lewis has been the most consistent player the past month, which has included two wins and five top five finishes. She took over the top spot as the highest ranked American in the Rolex Rankings a few weeks ago and currently sits atop the Rolex Player of Year standings above Tseng. While Tseng still has a big lead in the world rankings, the opportunity to take over the year-end honors would be remarkable. The two will go head to head this weekend in Arkansas though Lewis will undoubtedly have the crowd support due to her time at the University of Arkansas. 

*It was surely an emotional win for Melissa Reid last weekend on the Ladies European Tour when she won the Raiffeisenbank Prague Golf Masters. The 24 year-old British player lost her mother in a tragic car accident only a month ago. Her mother Joy had been traveling to see Reid play in Germany when the fatal accident occurred. In her first event since the tragedy Reid spoke about how the loss has forced her to change her perspective on life. 

"To be honest I wasn't that nervous. I think with something like what's happened to my family and me the last four weeks nothing really seems that difficult anymore," said Reid "I spoke to my coach when I went back a couple of weeks after and he said to me, 'I don't know when it's going to be, but this will make you a stronger person,' and my best friends have said that as well and I honestly think it will.

"It will make me fight and nothing will seem as bad as what I've been through, so yeah, I actually felt very calm and I knew I was going to hole the putt on 18."

She is a very talented young lady who unfortunately has been forced to deal with one of life's toughest lessons.  

*To say Michelle Wie's golf game has been struggling this season would be an understatement. However after six consecutive missed cuts Wie made the weekend last week in Canada. It was not a great finish (+3, T-68) but it was a start towards perhaps changing her game around. It might be just the small burst of confidence that Wie needs in order to return to the talented young player that we have seen in the past. Wie will be playing this weekend in Arkansas. 

TV Schedule for Walmart NW Arkansas Championship:

June 29 6:30-8:30pm EST GC

June 30 5:00-7:00pm EST GC

July 1 5:00-7:00pm EST GC

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