While in China for the Buick LPGA Masters, Angel Yin took in some tennis. During a semifinal match of the Shanghai Masters, Yin noticed how seventh-ranked Andrey Rublev “expressed himself very well on the court.”
“It wasn’t like he was just completely emotionless,” said Yin, who found herself flatlining on the golf course.
After making bogey on the sixth hole Sunday in Shanghai, Yin gave herself a pep talk walking up the next fairway.
“I was pretty emotional during Solheim,” she said, “and I did pretty good.”
The self-talk paid off as an engaged Yin took down World No. 1 Lilia Vu in a playoff for her first LPGA victory in 159 career starts at the Buick LPGA Shanghai. The two Solheim Cup teammates squared off earlier this season in a playoff at the Chevron Championship, where Vu came out on top. It’s Yin’s first professional victory since the 2017 Omega Dubai Ladies Classic on the Ladies European Tour. She went 2-1-0 in her third appearance for the U.S. Solheim Cup Team this past September.
The winning putt by @angelyinlol
pic.twitter.com/HbHLGoBW19
— LPGA (@LPGA) October 15, 2023
“Today was just Angel’s day,” said Vu. “I’m happy for her.”
Yin closed with a 70 at Qizhong Garden Golf Club while Vu shot 68. The pair were knotted at 14 under 274 for the tournament, one shot ahead of five players.
The 25-year-old Yin made birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat Vu, her Solheim Cup teammate, and a three-time winner this season. Yin becomes the 12th first-time winner on the LPGA this season, a new record for the tour. She earned $315,000 for her efforts.
Angel Yin of the United States and her caddie react on the 18th green during the final round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai at Shanghai Qizhong Garden Golf Club on October 15, 2023 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhe Ji/Getty Images)
Throughout the round Yin, the overnight leader, kept reminding herself that it’s not easy to win on the LPGA. She also worked hard to let her personality shine through inside the ropes.
“It’s funny because we’ve been talking about this a lot for the past few years,” said Yin. “I’ve been speaking to (former Solheim captain) Juli Inkster about it. I don’t really feel much emotion on the golf course. She was like, ‘No, that’s not good. I want you to get mad again.’
“I got a lot of emotions and I think started doing again and I started playing well. That helped me a lot, to be able to be expressive and not just flat-lining on the golf course. Growing up everyone taught me to be stone-faced, no emotions, poker face. I don’t think that fits me. What’s fitting me right now is what I’m doing to express myself.”