The roller coaster ride of LPGA star Angel Yin’s season took a sharp downturn when she was forced to withdraw from the HSBC Women’s World Championship due to illness. This unexpected turn of events came just as Yin seemed to be hitting her stride, having demonstrated a notable improvement in her performance.
Yin kicked off her season with a promising T18 finish at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, showing her mettle against fierce competition. The Founders Cup saw her further refine her game as she posted an impressive 11 under par over four days. However, she fell short of first place, lagging behind Yealimi Noh by a significant ten strokes.
The pinnacle of Yin’s early-season success was undoubtedly her triumph at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Establishing her dominance, she emerged victorious with a phenomenal 28 under par, edging out Akie Iwai by a single stroke. This victory was a testament to her growth as she continued to gain strength in her game.
The HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore was set to be Yin’s next proving ground. Despite a shaky start with 4 over par on the first day, she rallied and made a remarkable comeback to even par. However, a mysterious illness cut short her participation, robbing her of the opportunity to leverage this momentum in the final two days of the tournament.
This illness, which may be linked to a similar affliction suffered by her caddie, Michelle Simpson, resulted in Yin’s withdrawal from the tournament during the third round. With her regular caddie sidelined, Yin was forced to rely on her temporary caddie, Sakchai “Tom” Sirimaya, who had been with her during her Thailand victory.
There is speculation that the cause of the illness could be related to the adjustment to the climate in Southeast Asia. If this is indeed the case, Yin may opt to rest during the upcoming Blue Bay LPGA event in China. This would mean her possible return might not be until the Ford Championship in Arizona. This would be a significant loss for the tournament, as Yin’s absence would mean a missed opportunity to continue her strong start to the season.
Notably, Yin wasn’t the only golfer to withdraw from the HSBC event due to illness. Jenny Shin, who was seeking her first LPGA title in eight years, also had to bow out prematurely. Like Yin, Shin has set her sights on the Ford Championship in Arizona for her return.
Despite the setback, Yin’s resilience is well known on the tour. The general consensus is that she will bounce back and pick up where she left off. The question remains: Can she clinch her third LPGA title when she returns to the game fully fit? Only time will tell.