Yin Ruoning poses with the PGA Trophy after winning the Women's PGA Championship at the Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey, U.S., June 25, 2023. /CFP
Yin Ruoning had a calm demeanor about her on the newly renovated Lower Course at Baltusrol in New Jersey throughout the Women's PGA Championship.
Despite facing fierce competition from Japan's Yuka Saso and American prodigy Rose Zhang, the Chinese golf sensation remained composed and did not let it throw her off her game.
Having started the final day three strokes back from the lead, Yin quietly emerged from the chasing pack and climbed up the leaderboard. The 20-year-old was level with Yuka, who won the 2021 U.S. Women's Open at 19 years old, on seven under heading to the par-five 18th late Sunday.
Yin Ruoning reacts to the crowd after making a putt on the 18th green during the final round of the Women's PGA Championship at the Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey, U.S., June 25, 2023. /CFP
Yin knew she needed to hole a curling birdie putt to secure her first major career title. She did exactly that like a seasoned veteran, reaching the summit with a dramatic one-shot victory.
"When I was on the 18th tee, and I saw the leaderboard, and I know I have one-shot lead, but after the tee shot, I saw Yuka make an incredible birdie here, and I know I have to make birdie at this hole to win the championship," said Yin.
"I'm glad I did it; I didn't think too much. My goal was just no three-putts because the last couple days I made five bogeys, and four of them is made by three-putts. Today just no three-putts."
Yin Ruoning kisses the PGA Trophy after winning the Women's PGA Championship at the Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey, U.S., June 25, 2023. /CFP
Yin's triumph marks the second major win by a player from the Chinese mainland, following Feng Shanshan's breakthrough in 2012.
She will now pocket $1.5 million from a record $10 million purse, which tied the 2022 U.S. Women's Open for the largest all-time prize pool for a women's major.
It represented a huge turnaround in fortunes from just a year ago when Yin made only seven cuts in 16 events and earned a measly $170,140. She has already made great strides this season when she became the second winner from the Chinese mainland in LPGA Tour in April, joining none other than Feng.
Feng Shanshan holds the trophy after winning the LPGA Championship at the Locust Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York, June 10, 2012. /CFP
"The win means a lot, not just for me, also for China," an emotional Yin said at the time. "Shanshan is always my goal here, and I think she got 10 tour win, and, yeah, it's just my first one. She's definitely the person I look up to."
Yin has again followed in Feng's footsteps by becoming a major champion, and inevitably the Chinese wunderkind will be the title favorites when the Women's U.S. Open tees off at Pebble Beach in North Carolina in July.