MAJOR WINNERS FOR MASTERS

The 2009 ANZ Ladies Masters at RACV Royal Pines on the Gold Coast provided even greater cause for celebration of its 20th anniversary when the tournament’s promoters Tuohy Associates today announced that two of the most outstanding young talents in female golf are now confirmed for the event.
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rn19 year old Taiwanese golfer, Yani Tseng, and 20 year old South Korean, Ji Yai Shin, have both confirmed their entry to play and while both have played the ANZ Ladies Masters previously, their stunning seasons in 2008 now place them at another level in world golf. Given their rapid rise in world golf, they are sure to be huge attractions at the event to be staged from February 5 – 8 and will add further lustre to a field which will again include the six time ANZ Ladies Masters champion, Karrie Webb and Australian golf’s big mover in 2008, Katherine Hull.
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rnTseng, who won this year’s McDonald’s LPGA Championship, has risen rapidly to the number two position in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings behind only Lorena Ochoa, while Shin finished runner up to Karrie Webb at this year’s Women’s Australian Open and went on to win the 2008 Ricoh Women’s British Open and is currently ranked number eight (8) in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
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rnIn her rookie season on the LPGA Tour, Tseng won the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, making her first LPGA Tour victory a major championship. Tseng, who turns 20 in January, further enhanced her growing reputation by finishing runner up to Shin at the Ricoh Women’s British Open. With ten top 10 finishes in 2008, Tseng is assured of LPGA Tour ‘Rookie of the Year’ honours and with more than US$1.7 million in her first season in the US, it has been a brilliant debut in the big-time.
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rnOn the Korean LPGA Tour, Shin won seven times in 2008, including all major championship, becoming the first player in KLPGA history to complete the season Grand Slam – winning all major championships in the same year. Shin recorded her second LPGA victory for 2008 at last week’s Mizuno Classic in Japan.
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rnTseng has played the ANZ Ladies Masters on three previous occasions including finishing 3rd in 2006 and 5th in 2007, while Shin was runner up to Karrie Webb in 2007 and finished 6th in this year’s event.
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rnTournament Director Ben Tuohy was quick to point out the significance of securing the talented pair for Royal Pines. “There is little doubt that Yani and Ji Yai are amongst the most exciting talents in the game. While most locals will be keen for an Australian victory, the quality of players that both Shin and Tseng have become this season will be of great interest to golf fans generally. Most pundits believe that either could potentially challenge Ochoa for the title of world number one in 2009 and the opportunity to see them here at the ‘Sisters of Swing’ ANZ Ladies Masters early in the season is a juicy prospect for all and a great coup for the tournament.”
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rnTuohy also announced that he is currently in discussions with yet another major achiever in world golf in 2008 and expects to be able to announce further good news in that regard in the next few weeks.
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rnThe ANZ Ladies Masters, co-sanctioned by the Ladies’ European Tour and the ALPG Tour, will be broadcast by Network Ten on Feb 7 & 8 and will reach an international audience in excess of 160 million households. Tickets are on sale Monday November 3 at all Ticketmaster outlets.
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rnANZ Ladies Masters proudly supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
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rnFor further details, contact:
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rnBob Tuohy
rnANZ Ladies Masters
rnTournament Chairman
rnTel: 08 8373 2021
rnMb: 0411 131 627
rnbobtuohy@tagolf.com.au
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rnSandy Lonergan
rnALPG
rnMedia Co-ordinator
rnMb: 0427 023 140
rnsandyl@alpg.com.au
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rnCameron Rushworth
rnANZ
rnSponsorship Manager
rnTel: 03 9273 5474
rnMb: 0407 345 280
rnCameron.Rushworth@anz.com
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rnChelsea Steber
rnRACV Royal Pines Resort
rnCommunications Manager
rnTel: 07 5597 8765
rnMb: 0402 810 651
rncsteber@rpr.com.au