BUICK LPGA SHANGHAI

October 15, 2023

Angel Yin

Qizhong Garden Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Angel Yin. (Applause.)

ANGEL YIN: Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. You claim your maiden title right here. I know you are happy with the way you managed game, but how proud are you feeling right now?

ANGEL YIN: Very happy. Happy that my first maiden win was actually in Shanghai. I've come close twice in 2018 and 2019 before COVID, and so feels really good to be able to claim this title, and obviously do it in fashion with a playoff with world No. 1 Lilia Vu.

So pretty honored, and it's a very special week. The fans have been great. Volunteers have been amazing. The golf course, I know it had a really tough year, but they really put on world class for us and made it happen, and that's special.

THE MODERATOR: Open up to questions.

Q. I just want to know what the feelings were like as you got ready for this final round knowing you've been in contention before, and what did you draw on going into this final day?

ANGEL YIN: So I went to tennis. Went to watch the Shanghai Masters, which is pretty much the biggest tournament other than the majors. That's what I've learned. Just getting into tennis.

And I was watching the first match and then the second match, Rublev, and it was a really tough match between Dimitrov, and I just saw him like express himself very well on the court.

It wasn't like he was just completely emotionless. And I was like, you know, I've been thinking about that a lot last night, and then today I start out pretty mellow. Not much, kind of flat lining. Nothing was happening. I was like, you know what, I think I'm going to draw on my emotions.

It's funny because we've been talking about this a lot for the past few years. I've been speaking to Juli Inkster about it. I don't really feel much emotions 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 fitting me right now is I'm doing to express myself.

THE INTERPRETER: I can't write this down.

ANGEL YIN: Sorry. I spoke too long. It's like a speech being cut short.

Q. When did you, today on the course, start letting your emotions be felt? Was there a particular hole?

ANGEL YIN: Yes, I know the exact moment because I was like, this is not it. (Laughter.) It was -- I'm trying to think of the hole. 9, 8, 7, it was around there. Walking off 7, when I made my first bogey, or -- no, I can't remember. I think was it 7.

But I know going up to 8 I was like, come on, you got to draw on your emotion. I just went into the bunker. I chipped out and then I have a chip. I didn't chip as well as I wanted and it was a little short and the thing had like a 10-footer, 11-footer for par.

I said, come on, Angel, this is the moment. So the entire fairway I'm trying to pump myself up and get emotional. I was pretty emotional during Solheim and I did pretty good.

Q. When you hit the bunker on 18, what were you feeling then?

ANGEL YIN: I said to my caddie, this is a great lie. Everything is perfect. If I can't hit it, I just suck. So that was either this or that. I told him everything is set up for me to do it. If I can't, then that's just on me.

Q. When you stare down 18 then, Chevron Championship Part II, what was the strategy on that playoff hole?

ANGEL YIN: So I messed up first go on 18 when I was playing my actual round and I hit driver, so that was why I was in the bunker.

So I was like, if I can just get another chance, if I don't pull off a miracle birdie, if I come back around I know I'm going to hit 3-wood. That's what I chose. Executed it and, it was good.

Obviously like playing against Lilia, I know I had to play well. She's world No. 1 for a reason. Her performances this year have been incredible, winning two majors, and I think another tournament in Thailand, so it's not going to be easy.

Second time playing with her so I know I had to do something good.

Q. We saw the fist pump, the relief on that final -- when you watched that putt go it. Knowing the injuries that you have overcome, the adversity that you've overcome since you turned professional, what does it mean to be able to call yourself an LPGA Tour winner?

ANGEL YIN: It's special. Honestly, I'm still living in the moment so much that I haven't been able to draw on the past to think about the journey and where I am right now. I'm still so much in the present, and I think sometime golf you have to be like that. That's where I am right now.

If I can just give you an answer that's in the back of my head, it's always very special, and throughout the round I was thinking to myself, it's not easy to win. It's not easy to win.

Just very grateful. Honestly, 18 that bunker where I was in, anything could have happened, but I was very fortunate to have a very good lie and was able to hit a good shot and everything played out the way it played out.

It's been a special week.

Q. Congratulations to the champion. We have been waiting for three years. We were looking forward to a Chinese local champion, but we were waiting for you, who can speak Chinese. Although you're from the States, right? Maybe you hear the cheers from other countries, but happy to hear the Chinese local fans cheer for and support you.

I know people will say, well, Angel Yin, you look like you're from Korea, right? You also have a lot of (indiscernible) friends.

ANGEL YIN: I can't lie, so that was the truth, but, I mean, very special to be looking around and everyone is speaking Chinese. I'm very happy my mom taught me how to speak Chinese.