KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 25, 2023

Ruoning Yin

Baltusrol Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: I am pleased to be joined by the 2023 champion, Ruoning Yin. What does it mean to you to walk off and become a major champion today?

RUONING YIN: It means a lot, but it still feels unreal right now. Before today, I didn't even think about it. After nine holes when we were at the clubhouse, I started thinking about, oh, maybe I have a chance to win this championship.

Q. You were giving yourself some chances and didn't make any putts for the first 10 or so holes. What started working with the putter that got you going?

RUONING YIN: I think I had a couple chances on the front nine, but I just missed it. My caddie and I just were talking about just be patient and putts will fall.

I think on the back nine, I have a couple, like, maybe 12-footer, and just made it.

Q. 13, 14?

RUONING YIN: Yeah.

Q. At age 20, has any of this sunken in yet, being a major champion out here?

RUONING YIN: Not really. When I was walking to this tent, I just said, oh, wow, major winner. It's amazing. It's just unreal.

Q. How much were you looking at leaderboards down the stretch, and did you know what that last putt meant?

RUONING YIN: Yeah. I look at the leaderboard all the time because I like to look at the leaderboard because I know what position am I at.

I think I was on 18 tee, I just looked at a leaderboard, and I saw, I have a one-shot lead. And when I walked down to the fairway and I saw Yuka made a birdie there, I know I have to make birdie on 18 to win.

Q. Can you walk us through that last putt and what you were feeling?

RUONING YIN: Actually Lauren showed me the line for a little bit. I just talked to my caddie, like maybe left edge. I just putted a very clutch putt.

Q. Have you thought about what this could mean for golf in China, the second Chinese player to win a major championship?

RUONING YIN: I think that means a lot. I'm glad that I can be the second Chinese player after Shanshan won a major. Like I said after LA Open, I think it's going to push a lot of kids to play golf.

Q. On another topic and not to take away from your fantastic day here, but Rose Zhang, also a 20-year old, have you had a chance to talk to her a little bit since she's been out on Tour, and do you have an opinion on what she's been able to do in her first two starts as a professional?

RUONING YIN: I haven't really got a chance to talk to her, but what she's done is just amazing. First tournament as a pro she won. Just, yeah, incredible.

Q. You're also a player that won pretty early in their professional career. When you look back to 2021, you were at Z-Series, finished T24 to get your card, and now you're here. How much did you grow in 2022 maybe even at the beginning of 2023 that really propelled you to this moment. You seem like a totally different person.

RUONING YIN: I mean, first thing, I think my English improved a lot. Second is my game. Just more -- I think more mature. Like before I just go straight at the flag every shot, and right now I think I play smart, more smarter right now.

Q. How did you learn to do that? Was it just by watching some of the girls that you played with?

RUONING YIN: Actually from my coach because he always said, you're such a good ball striker. You just need to play smart and focus on your line, on your target, and you're going to be fine.

I think we're doing good right now.

Q. What is it about those final putts that are a little lengthy on final greens that really get you going? You never seem to blink when those happen.

RUONING YIN: I actually kind of felt that I was going to make it, and I made it. It's a very weird feeling.

Q. If my math is right, I think you were nine when Shanshan won her major title. Were you playing golf then? Do you remember much about it?

RUONING YIN: I didn't even start playing golf back then. Yeah, I think so.

Q. /HOULTD were you when you started playing?

RUONING YIN: 10 and a half. I think first year Janet played on Tour I started to play golf.

Q. What spurred you on to playing? Why did you want to?

RUONING YIN: I'm a huge basketball fan, and I always told my mom, if I'm maybe 10 centimeters higher, I would probably just go play basketball, not golf.

Q. Is it safe to say that rent is going up now?

RUONING YIN: Oh, wow. Actually I'm thinking about buy her house right now. (Laughter).

Yeah, just think about it.

Q. What was Shanshan's influence on you?

RUONING YIN: I would say she's definitely the goal that I'm chasing. But I think she is the person who inspired me the most. I would say that.

Q. Do you have interaction with her at all?

RUONING YIN: Not really. I didn't get a chance. I think she left.

Q. From a basketball standpoint, who's your favorite player? Who's your favorite team? Who did you want to be when you were playing?

RUONING YIN: Stephen Curry. I'm a nine years curry fan. That's a pretty long time.

Q. Have you always been somebody who stays pretty calm in the big moments?

RUONING YIN: I think I'm a calm person, and also my coach is pretty calm. Like every time I have something wrong and I was emotion and I just talk to him, he's just like, chill, you'll be fine. I was like, okay.

Q. And did you talk to Janet after the round?

RUONING YIN: I didn't get a chance yet.

Q. What will you say to her?

RUONING YIN: Wow. Good question. I don't know. To be honest, I don't know.

Q. It was a big day for your caddie, as well. You've only had him on the bag a couple weeks. Did the two of you click pretty instantly? He said he came and walked this golf course. Was that a help?

RUONING YIN: Yeah, definitely. He know the course very well. Like especially on the greens. He just know every part of the green.

We start I think our first tournament at ShopRite. I just read my greens by myself, and this week he just told me he's really good at reading. I was like, okay, let's see. Yeah, he's amazing.

Q. Have you ever played Pebble Beach? What do you know about it?

RUONING YIN: I played once when I was 12. But I couldn't remember. The only thing I remember is the rough, like super thick.

Q. Was that vacation or --

RUONING YIN: It was like winter camp, and I shoot 88.

Q. Was that with the national team?

RUONING YIN: No, no. Just winter camp.

Q. There's a historic line of champions that have won on this course, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Mickey Wright. What does it mean to you to add your name, and eventually you'll have your picture in the famed clubhouse here?

RUONING YIN: Oh, that will be awesome. Even I think about that right now, I've got goosebumps. They're all legends. I'm glad that I can be part of it.

Q. Winning at a historic track like this, does that add any importance or any significance to the victory, or a win is just a win in your mind?

RUONING YIN: Just one tournament. I think there's more to come.

Q. As somebody that was inspired by one player playing so well from your home country, to maybe be that one person for another Ruoning Yin, what does that mean to you if you can put that into words?

RUONING YIN: I would say that means a lot. Me and Xiyu, we're super close. It's hard to tell. I mean, we kind of all want to push China golf to move to the next step, and I think we're doing good. I want her to win, as well, and I hope next time she wins I can be there, too.