Golf-Feng Yueer leads youth brigade at U.S. Women's Open

By Larry Fine

BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania, July 8 (Reuters) - China's Feng Yueer said she was not nervous and was realistic about her prospects as the youngest competitor at the U.S. Women's Open beginning on Thursday.

"I thought I would completely freak out but I was not freaking out," 13-year-old Feng told Reuters on the practice putting green Wednesday before joining veterans Paula Creamer and Lindsey Wright for a practice round at Saucon Valley.

"I thought I would be more nervous, but so far it's not as bad as I thought."

The 5-foot-6 (1.68 m) Feng, who likes to be called "Cindy", was born in China and has made a name for herself on the U.S. junior circuit from her home in Orlando, Florida.

Twice a winner on the American Junior Golf Association circuit, the slender Feng qualified for the women's major by firing a second-round 68 after an opening 76 in sectional qualifying in North Carolina.

She leads a youth brigade that includes 26 teenagers and 28 amateurs in the 156-player field assembled at the 6,740-yard layout for the third women's major of the year.

"It's really tough. It's really long, so I have to use some really long clubs for the approach," said Feng, who needed to hit three-woods into some long par-fours.

"That means less consistency compared to the shorter clubs, so I have to sharpen my short game."