YANI Tseng said she almost cried. The world No. 1 was making a charge in the women's Australian Open yesterday, when she pulled her drive left and into the mulga at the dog-leg, par-four seventh.

Fifteen minutes and a penalty drop later she had carded a quadruple-bogey eight that might yet cost her a third straight title when matters are settled tomorrow.

''I don't remember the last time I had an eight,'' said the 23-year-old Tseng, who then quickly recalled a ''snowman'' going on her card at the Evian Masters last year.

''I just didn't commit to the shot I was going to hit on the tee box.

''I was thinking too much and I pulled it left. My first instinct was to hit it again [off the tee], but it looked like we had room from there to punch out.

''But I didn't punch it out good, it was in the rough again. I laid up to the rough again then punched out to the fairway. I had 93 yards for the sixth shot and I two-putted for eight.''

Her troubles were not done. Another bogey at the par-five eighth and another at the par-four ninth meant she dropped six shots in just three holes. Showing her mettle, the Taiwanese player shot two-under par in difficult conditions on the back nine to card a 76.

Through two rounds, she is even-par overall and just six shots from the lead, still in contention.

''Almost I would just cry, but now I didn't,'' she said. ''I hung in there.

''Those three holes took me forever. I feel it was a long day today but I'm glad I fought back on the back nine. Even for two days is OK.''