World number one Yani Tseng of Taiwan heads the field for this

World number one Yani Tseng of Taiwan heads the field for this week’s Lorena Ochoa Invitational, and she’s happy to have a chance to catch up with the tournament host — who’s about to become a mother.

“(Her belly) is huge,” Tseng said of Ochoa, who will make her presence felt this week outside the ropes. “I guess it’s a boy. I was really happy to see her. I wish she could play, but I’m very happy to see her going to have a baby soon. She looks very happy.”

Ochoa, the longtime world number one, bid farewell to LPGA competition last year to start a family. Her first child, a boy, is due in a few weeks.

Tseng, 22, arrives in Mexico after victories in the LPGA’s Taiwan Championship and the Ladies European Tour Suzhou Taihu Ladies in China.

She has won 11 titles worldwide this season, including seven LPGA titles and major titles at the Women’s British Open and the LPGA Championship.

“This is a really tough golf course,” Tseng said. “You are hitting all different shots on this golf course, hitting 14 clubs.

Michelle Wie, whose 2009 victory here was the first of her two LPGA Tour title sto date, withdrew last year with a back injury afer a first-round 78.

She’s looking forward to trying to regain the crown.

“This tournament is very special to me,” Wie said. “Obviously, having my family here is pretty cool. I love this golf course. Unfortunately, it was very sad last year that I couldn’t finish four rounds.

“Hopefully, this year, I’m feeling good. The weather is great. The golf course is awesome, as always. I’m very excited.”

Defending champion In-Kyung Kim closed with an eight-under par 64 last year en route to a tournament record 19-under par winning total.

Source AP
Photo by Victor Fraile/Getty Images AsiaPac