HSBC Women’s Championship: Top golf stars battle car crash injuries

Accident may help world number one Tseng maintain top spot.

SINGAPORE: A car crash in Thailand has left top golf stars battling injuries at this week’s HSBC Women’s Champions — and could help Tseng Yani extend her long stint as world number one.

Former winner Ai Miyazato has been ruled out while American star Paula Creamer is in question for the $1.4 million showpiece in Singapore, after they were involved in a multi-vehicle smash following the Honda LPGA Thailand.

Creamer, Miyazato and Suzann Pettersen of Norway were en route to Bangkok airport when they were caught in the five-car accident, and needed treatment for minor injuries after arriving in Singapore.

“I’ve felt better after the crash, that’s for sure — we will see what happens,” said Creamer. “I had a pretty bad whiplash from hitting the headrest but I took it easy and I hope that I can tee it up today. It’s pretty amazing how we walked away with minor injuries.”

Creamer cut short her appearance in Wednesday’s warm-up event and went for extra treatment, while Miyazato did not play the warm-up event at the par-72 Sentosa Golf Club, a tournament official said.

The mishap threatens to rob the tournament, featuring most of the world’s best players, of two big names, and could potentially play into the hands of world number one Tseng, who is clinging to a narrow lead after 107 weeks at the top.

The ‘Pride of Taiwan’, winless for nearly a year, has started the season impressively with back-to-back top-three finishes. But she insisted staying at number one was not her main concern.

“World number one is not as important as before now,” said Tseng. “I’ve already reached (there), and I’ve been there before.

“I’m still here, but I just want to enjoy (myself) more. Because I know if I’m not looking at the result, I just want to play the golf and enjoy every swing and enjoy every tournament.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2013.