Chinese golf prodigy Yin Ruoning, at the tender age of 20, achieves a remarkable feat by securing the coveted position of world number one in women’s golf. Following in the footsteps of her compatriot Feng Shanshan, Yin clinches the top spot after an impressive third-place finish at the LPGA Queen City Championship.
A dream realized and a mentor’s influence
For Yin Ruoning, this achievement is nothing short of a dream come true. “It’s very important for me. It’s like a dream come true,” she expresses. The significance is heightened as she acknowledges the influence of her role model, Feng Shanshan, who previously held the top position from November 2017 to April 2018. Yin shares her excitement, “Being number one is an important step to follow in the footsteps of Shanshan.”
“I have goosebumps. Being number one is an important step to follow in the footsteps of Shanshan.” – Yin Ruoning
Mentorship at the asian games
The story takes an interesting turn as Yin Ruoning, now crowned the world’s number one, will be playing under the coaching of Feng Shanshan at the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Yin expresses her eagerness to spend more time with Shanshan, stating, “I’m looking forward to returning to China, playing in the Asian Games, and spending more time with her, as she is the main coach of our national team.”
A strategic move to the top spot
In a strategic move, Yin needed to secure a top-four finish to surpass American Lilia Vu for the coveted world number one ranking. This gamble paid off as she claimed the third spot in the Queen City tournament. Yin had previously marked her golfing prowess with a major title win at the Women’s PGA Championship in June and a victory at the LPGA LA Open two months prior.
“Every week I know I’m in a good position, and I rank among the winners. It’s great to see that I can play well and also have consistency.” – Yin Ruoning
The comfort of consistency
Yin’s climb to the top of the world rankings is not an isolated success. With four top-three finishes in five competitions, she exemplifies both skill and consistency. “I’m in a pretty comfortable position,” Yin shares, reflecting on her steady ascent in the competitive world of women’s golf.