5-time Major Champion Turns Left-handed on Greens as Last Resort
Yani Tseng, a 5-time major champion and former world #1, has made a drastic change to her game by switching to left-handed putting despite being naturally right-handed. This unusual move comes after years of struggles on the greens.
The change was noticed during the 2025 Chevron Championship, where broadcast footage showed Tseng putting left-handed. Former LPGA champion Morgan Pressel, who spoke with Tseng at the past champions dinner, explained that Tseng feels her stroke is more fluid from the left side and eliminates a problematic hitch in her right-handed stroke.
Tseng's career has seen dramatic highs and lows. After dominating women's golf in the late 2000s with five major victories and multiple player of the year awards, she hasn't won since early 2012. While her ball-striking remained strong, putting issues severely impacted her performance, leading to numerous missed cuts and a drop from the top 100 rankings.
The switch to left-handed putting represents what Pressel describes as a "last resort" after trying various conventional methods like the long putter, arm-lock, and claw grip. Despite the unconventional nature of this change, Tseng's left-handed stroke appears fluid, suggesting she may have found a potential solution to her putting struggles.
This adjustment comes as Tseng attempts to revive her career following a two-year break from the sport and recent appearances on the Taiwanese LPGA Tour. Her return to major championship golf with this new putting style demonstrates her determination to overcome the mental and technical challenges that have plagued her game.