China's Yin Ruoning wins Women's PGA Championship
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Yin Ruoning is only the second Chinese woman to win a golf major.
PHOTO: AFP
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NEW YORK – China’s Yin Ruoning sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole on Sunday to win the Women’s PGA Championship for her first Major title, following in the footsteps of Feng Shanshan, whom she called “the person who inspired me the most”.
Having started the day three shots off the lead, the 20-year-old from Shanghai fired a four-under 67 to finish 72 holes at Baltusrol Golf Club on eight-under 276 and edge out Japan’s Yuka Saso (66) by one stroke.
The world No. 25 offered a subdued celebration but became emotional at the trophy ceremony as she thanked her parents for supporting her “since day one”.
Yin took the US$1.5 million (S$2.03 million) top prize and became only the second woman from China to win a Major title after Feng, who captured the 2012 Women’s PGA crown.
“I would say she’s definitely the goal that I’m chasing,” said Yin, who was nine when Feng made the breakthrough 11 years ago. “She is the person who inspired me the most.”
Saso, a 22-year-old Filipino-born Japanese star who won the 2021 US Women’s Open, birdied the par-five 18th to match Yin for the lead at seven under on the rain-soaked layout at Springfield, New Jersey.
Yin answered by landing her approach 10 feet from the hole and rolled in the tension-packed birdie putt for the victory in the year’s second women’s Major.
“After the tee shot, I saw Yuka make an incredible birdie here, I knew I had to make birdie at this hole to win the championship and I’m glad I did it,” she said.
An early afternoon storm halted play for almost two hours. But, after play resumed, Yin birdied the 13th and 14th holes to grab a share of the lead, parred the next three holes as rivals faltered, and won at the last after hitting every green in regulation in the final two rounds.
“For last couple of days, my ball-striking was perfect,” she said. “I only missed six greens in four days, so I think my ball striking was pretty good.
“My goal for today, just no three-putts. And I did it too. I didn’t think too much. Just no three-putts because the last few days I made five bogeys and four of them were three-putts.”
Sharing third place on 278 were Spain’s Carlota Ciganda (64), Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist (65), China’s Lin Xiyu (67), American Megan Khang (67) and Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow (70).
Japan’s Ayaka Furue (66), South Korean Jenny Shin (72) and American Rose Zhang (67) were joint-eighth on 279.
China’s Yin Ruoning sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole on Sunday to win the Women’s PGA Championship for her first Major title.
PHOTO: AFP
Sako said: “I was concentrating on things I had to do and wasn’t looking at the leaderboard much... I battled some top players. It’s still been a wonderful week.”
Yin had joined Feng as the only Chinese women to win an LPGA title when she captured the LA Open in April.
Among those unable to match Yin down the stretch was Lin, who shared the lead when the storm struck.
“It’s pretty amazing,” Lin, 28, said of Yin’s victory. “She’s young and she’s so talented.
“She’s definitely really good at dealing with pressure. It’s great to see that.”
Yin rents a house in Orlando from Lin and said she had not thought about how her rent might now get higher. “Actually, I’m thinking about buying her house right now,” Yin said.
Former world No. 1 Feng, who retired in August 2022, heaped praise on her young compatriots on her Weibo account. She wrote: “They are composed, ambitious, intelligent and focused on their goals. No words are too complimentary for these excellent girls!
“More Chinese girls have become top athletes and are competitive enough to win, demonstrating the power of a young generation. You are the hope of Chinese golf and I am proud of you.”
AFP, REUTERS, XINHUA
