Five-time major winner Yani Tseng makes first LPGA cut in seven years at British Open

Coming into this week's AIG Women's British Open, Yani Tseng hadn't made a cut in an LPGA event since 2018. Hadn't made a cut in a major since 2017. The five-time major winner has been fighting her way through the abyss for the better part of a decade, trying to find the strong mind, body and technique that once made her a dominant No. 1.

And now, at a championship that has twice seen Tseng hoist a trophy, the 36-year-old has finally seen some light.

"I'm fighting really hard to be here," said Tseng. "I'm proud of myself that I didn't give up. I gave myself a chance to come back here, and play the links course like this, it's always a dream."

After missing the cut by one stroke at the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills, Tseng is headed to the weekend at Royal Porthcawl, despite a bogey on the closing par 5, playing in afternoon conditions that were often described as brutal.

Tseng shot 72-73 to finish 1 over, one shot clear of the cut line at 2 over. She trails leader Miyu Yamashita by a dozen shots.

"It's a hate and love relationship, you know, with the golf," said Tseng.

"I'm enjoy this game and I still have a feel passionate about this game, and I want to see the best version of myself and play well again."

Tseng's feat happened away from the spotlight and cameras, but anyone who has watched her play this year has noticed something quite unique: She's now putting left-handed. The change came about after Tseng had from the suffered the yips on and off for several seasons.

After she hit the ball well at the Women's British Open last summer but missed the cut, she came to the conclusion that she’d never win another golf tournament putting right-handed. The first time Tseng putted lefty was at a tournament in Taiwan late last year and she saw immediate results, draining a 3-footer on the first hole.

"I just want to play free," said Tseng at Porthcawl. "Hopefully I can play like – I don't know, I'm excited. I don't really know what's going on. I haven't been playing a weekend for a while, but I hope to just enjoy more out there and then be aggressive and then do the best I can do."

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Yani Tseng makes first LPGA cut in seven years at Women's British Open