PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) - Yani Tseng made the mistake of grabbing the trophy before the end of a major tournament once already this year - and lost.
With a five-shot lead after the third round of the LPGA Championship on Saturday, the top-ranked Tseng doesn't intend to make the same mistake again.
"When I see a trophy, I just figure I want to grab it," Tseng said, recalling how she might have jinxed herself at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April. That's when she grabbed the trophy as she stepped to the first tee upon opening the final round, and then proceeded to squander a two-shot lead in finishing second to Stacy Lewis.
"It just did not work out at Kraft, so I better not touch it this time," Tseng said, smiling. "That's how I learn."
The way she's playing, Tseng has reason to be patient in a bid to win her fourth career major, and eighth tournament. She essentially ran away from the field with a 5-under 67 that has her at 13-under 203 at Locust Hill Country Club outside Rochester.
Americans Morgan Pressel (70) and Cindy LaCrosse (69) were tied for second, and Hee Young Park (72) was seven shots behind Tseng. Defending champion Cristie Kerr matched Tseng with a third-round best 67 to join Lewis (70), Meena Lee (70) and Paula Creamer (72) at 5 under.
Tseng, who turned 22 in January, is a round away from becoming the youngest to win four major golf tournaments. She also won LPGA Championship during her rookie-of-the-year season in 2008, when the event was played at Bulle Rock in Maryland, and took the Kraft Nabisco and Women's British Open last year.
Tiger Woods and Se Ri Pak were 24 when they won their fourth majors.
"That sounds pretty good. I'm working on that," Tseng said, when informed of the elite company she has a chance of passing. "Tomorrow, I'm just going to go there and smile all day and then play smart."
Tseng has seven career LPGA Tour wins, and has already won twice this year.
