Angel Yin triumphed in her second career victory at the Honda LPGA Thailand on Sunday, making waves in the golf world with an impressive 28-under 260. She narrowly beat Japanese newcomer Akie Iwai by a slim margin of one stroke. Yin’s perfect final-round score of 65 was instrumental in holding off Iwai, who had initiated a late rally.
“I was far from relaxed as Akie scored 10 under on the first day. The course was challenging, so I had to stay focused,” Yin revealed, reflecting on the intense competition she faced during the final round. Despite entering the last day with a significant five-stroke lead, Yin was continuously challenged by Iwai, who momentarily caught up with her at 24-under following a birdie on the 12th hole.
Yin, however, responded with three successive birdies, regaining the lead and never letting it slip. What made Yin’s victory even more remarkable was the unforeseen challenge she encountered with her caddie. On the eve of the tournament, Yin’s regular caddie, Michelle Simpson, fell sick, leaving Yin in urgent need of a substitute. That’s when Sakchai “Tom” Sirimaya, a seasoned caddie who had previously worked on the Japanese Senior Tour and the Asian Tour, entered the scene. With no time to lose, Tom stepped in to fill the gap.
“Three minutes before my tee time on Thursday, he appeared. I thought he’d be someone’s dad,” Yin recounted, amusement clear in her voice. Yin’s bag was notoriously heavy, and not just anyone could manage it. “My manager, who is also a friend, tried and almost toppled over. The golf bag weighs as much as she does, so she couldn’t handle it,” she explained. The situation was desperate, and Tom’s expertise turned out to be a godsend.
As Iwai concluded the tournament in second place, she etched her own history by recording a tournament-low round of 61, comprising 10 birdies and a closing eagle. Although she missed the win by a whisker, her performance was one of the event’s major highlights. Angel Yin’s victory under the guidance of an emergency caddie adds an intriguing chapter to her career.
Golf history is replete with instances where fill-in caddies have proven to be a boon for players. For example, Bob MacIntyre’s father filled in as his caddie at the Canadian Open last season, leading to a heartwarming victory. Fred Couples shot an impressive 60 with a new caddie, while Tommy Fleetwood depended on a local caddie to secure a podium finish at Augusta. Max Homa won in South Africa with a friend as his caddie.
Other examples include Matt Kuchar’s win in Mayakoba with a fill-in caddie, Sungjae Im’s victory with his friend’s first week on the job, and even Sergio Garcia’s win at the 2012 Wyndham Championship with a local caddie. These instances underline the impact a change of pace can have on a player’s performance.
Much like in the NBA, where teams sometimes perform better when a key player is missing, golf professionals can excel when there’s a disruption in the usual rhythm. This doesn’t imply that players perform better without their regular caddie. Instead, it highlights how a small change can sometimes help a player regain their stride. How do you view this? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
