If Yani Tseng wanted to strike fear into the field for this week’s Women’s Australian Open, she succeeded.

The No.1 player in the world won 12 times last season, including seven times on the LPGA Tour, but has decided she needs to improve.

For the past two years, wins in the Open at Commonwealth have propelled her to unrivalled form.

“I always have a good start here in Australia, hopefully it will be a good start for the year,” the 23-year-old Taiwanese said.

“Last year is over. This is a new year for me. I have been working real hard in the off-season to change my swing a bit, to make it more consistent. I think I am ready for this year.”

Tseng, who won two majors last year to bring her tally to five, is working to keep herself well distanced from her rivals and it is her swing in particular which has come under scrutiny.

“When I take it back I always lean back a little bit so I have tried to change my back swing,” she said on Tuesday.

“I have tried to get physically stronger, so my swing can match my physique. I have been working out very good. My trainer was in Orlando with me last month, and my coach. We work really hard.”

Tseng said the result of the work is effortless power.

“I have more power. I don’t swing as hard as before. I feel I am swinging easier and striking the ball better.

“Now I feel that if I swing 70-80 per cent, the ball is still flying better than before. I always tried to swing really hard. Now I don’t swing so hard but the ball still goes that far. I am very happy about that … I can still rip it,” she said.

Tseng, who has a strong affinity for sand belt and links courses, played nine holes at Royal Melbourne on Monday and described the famed layout as “unbelievable.”

“It was pretty tough. The greens were fast. I am very excited and I can’t wait to go out and have fun,” she said.

“I think you will have to play very well to win this tournament. We have a good field this week and a great golf course.

“The course is not long but you need to be very focused. Every shot. If you just miss-focus on one shot, you can get in big trouble. This week will be like a major course. You need to be smart, patient and focus on every shot.”

Tseng said she learnt a lot about Royal Melbourne from watching the Presidents Cup there late last year.

“I watched many holes and … I learnt a lot from the TV. I know which places you better not go and the strategy to play. It worked out pretty well.

“You are going to use a lot of imagination to play on this course.”