Yani Tseng, the 22-year-old Taiwanese golfer who won the Women's British Open for the second straight year on Sunday, is fast becoming the toast of Taipei - and the rest of her home island.
Tseng defeated American Brittany Lang by four strokes at Carnoustie, Scotland to become the youngest player - male or female - to capture a fifth major title.
Tseng is also only the third player to win consecutive women's British titles, joining Sherri Steinhaurer (1998, 1999) and Debbie Massey (1980, 1981).
On Monday, her victory dominated the front pages of Taiwanese newspapers, with all four Chinese-language dailies featuring front page photographs of her lifting her newly awarded trophy. Cable news stations also repeatedly replayed her big moment in Scotland, dressed in matching white jumper, short pants and shoes, and lifting the trophy triumphantly.
The mass circulation Apple Daily wrote on the front page, ''Ni is great,'' while United Daily News chimed in that she had rewritten history.
Tseng told Apple Daily after the tournament that she is hoping to get some rest after returning to Taiwan later this week.
''I want to get some good sleep, and then eat properly,'' She said. ''I miss Taiwanese food very much.''
Cable news channel TVBS said Tseng had further consolidated her status as world's No.1 female golfer following the win, while news station CTI added: ''Yani Tseng again shines on the international stage.''
Golf boomed in Taiwan in the 1980s, but by the early 1990s the sport had started to fade, as government money and corporate sponsorships were funneled to more popular sports, particularly baseball.
Tseng's spectacular performances in recent years have helped return interest to golf in Taiwan and her scheduled participation at an LPGA tournament in suburban Taipei in late October is expected to draw a huge local turnout.
