MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP

October 27, 2024

Ruoning Yin

Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Hello, everyone, and welcome to the media center at the 2024 Maybank Championship. Joined by 2024 champion, Ruoning Yin. Let's give a round of applause.

(Applause.)

What a day. Paired with some amazing other players. Came out on top by one shot. Talk about your emotions that went into today.

RUONING YIN: I would say that was a really tough battle out there, and Haeran and Jeeno, they are really, really good and they just bring the best version of myself.

I would say today the key for me is be patient. I had a really good start on the front nine and kind of just like yesterday, slow down a little bit after 12. I have a lot of birdie chances on 14, 15, and 16, even 17.

So when I missed on 16 green, David my caddie told me, you're doing good. Just be patient. Putts will drop. So I'm really happy that I stayed patient.

Q. I think the other major headline is this is your second win in your last three starts. What's going so well for you? What's it like to be Ronni right now?

RUONING YIN: Feels pretty good being myself. I would say at Buick second round when I fix my driver I know I'm able to win, I will have a chance to win every week I would say.

This week and Buick week my driver, my putting, and my approach shot just really, really good. Yeah, I'm pretty happy right now. (Smiling.)

Q. You're joining an elite few this season having three wins, Nelly, Lydia, and Hannah. What's it like to have that dominance towards the end of the season here?

RUONING YIN: I would say this season so far I learn a lot. I would say my mental is next level I would say, because early this year I was really stressed because I had really good year last year, and early this year I think I put too many pressure on myself thinking about if I can win again or not.

And after Mizuho, I think I got hurt Mizuho week, and after that I realized that I really love golf. I really like to play on this Tour, play with all my friends, and I just really wanted to enjoy my life, enjoy play on the course.

Whatever the goal is, just be happy you get there. So I'm really happy that I am able to do that and join, like you said, Nelly, Lydia, and Hannah.

And also I saw a lot of big names on the way to the locker, a lot of big names win here. I'm really happy that I can be one of them.

Q. Congratulations, Ronni. You obviously are in good form. Won two weeks ago. The question I have to pose to you, I'm not sure you would like to answer this, is this: This tournament, the organizers look to it also as being not only such a nice big LPGA tournament, but they also want to encourage the young girls, local young girls to join and take up golf. You, yourself, are quite young. I'm not sure if you would like to answer it and share with us what your perception is of like the young girls coming up in golf? On that one, you might as well just mention maybe a specific mention like in China golf. Thank you.

RUONING YIN: I'm 22 this year and there is a lot younger player coming to the Tour. I would say like every time I play in a tournament I'm just really happy to see all the kids come out to watch, even some of them maybe don't really know what golf is. But I still like to see kids running around on the course.

I think that means a lot to this sport, and also I'm really happy to see some younger Chinese player able to go through the Q-School and play on Tour. It's really I think good.

Q. Congratulations on your win as well. You mentioned about how you love being on tour and playing with your friends. How is it playing with Jeeno today in the final group?

RUONING YIN: It's really fun actually. Actually it's our first time playing together in the final group. I would say she really put a lot of pressure on me, but I think it just another normal day for us.

I'm sure this won't be the last time, and I'm sure there will be more battle between us, and so I'm really looking forward for our next battle.

Q. And one more. Shanshan Feng used to win a couple times in Malaysia. How does it feel to probably win in Malaysia as a player from China as well?

RUONING YIN: Yeah, I just, like I said, I saw her picture on the way to the locker and I know she won in 2016. I'm just literally thinking about if I'm able to join her, the second Chinese player win in Malaysia, and I'm happy to do that, yeah.

Q. Here at the Maybank Championship there were so many fans out there today. What's it like to see the build of this tournament and all the fans that came to support today?

RUONING YIN: The crowds are really good today. I just told Dave that this probably the -- I mean, this is probably the best crowd of the year so far. I just really love to see all the fans come out to watch.

And the grandstand, everything, it's just really phenomenal.

Q. Lastly, couple more events in this 2024 season. What are you looking forward to most as we wrap up?

RUONING YIN: Right now for me, I will play Pelican and CME and hope I can bring another trophy home.