LPGA New Champion Wang Xinying: Golf is a Tough Sport, Always Maintain Courage and Patience.
In the recently concluded FM Championship in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Wang Xinying remained calm and composed, defeating world number one Thai player Atthaya Thitikul by one stroke, becoming the third Chinese mainland player to win an LPGA title after Feng Shanshan and Yin Ruoning.
After her victory in her LPGA rookie season, Wang Xinying said: "I hope this is the starting point for more victories, because my goal on the LPGA Tour is to fully realize my potential and compete with the world's best players." The 26-year-old player said in an exclusive interview with the Global Times overseas edition: "This is a great start to my LPGA career. It gives me more confidence for the rest of the season, and I know I can achieve higher goals, including major championships."
In the final round on August 31, Wang Xinying demonstrated remarkable composure and technical stability. She shot a 34 (-2) on the front nine, quickly establishing a lead. The back nine turned into a fierce battle, with Thitikul birdieing the 12th hole to tie the score, then taking the sole lead after Wang bogeyed the 15th. However, Wang remained calm, sinking a crucial birdie putt on the 17th to regain the lead, and then parred the 18th to secure the victory.
The China Golf Association sent a congratulatory letter to Wang Xinying, stating that her victory embodies the Chinese sports spirit of winning glory for the country, tenacious struggle, and unity and cooperation. The letter said that in recent years, athletes' outstanding performances on the international stage have won honor for China's golf program and laid a solid foundation for preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
From ten-time LPGA Tour champion Feng Shanshan, to Yin Ruoning who won a major championship at the 2023 Women's PGA Championship, to Lin Xiyu who won the bronze medal in golf at the 2024 Paris Olympics, they are all role models inspiring Chinese golfers and enthusiasts. Wang Xinying noted that both Feng Shanshan and Lin Xiyu have won Olympic bronze medals. They proved that Chinese players can reach the highest world stage even if they start later.
Wang Xinying said: "Many athletes of my generation are inspired by role models. Now, Yin Ruoning is a major champion. As an LPGA champion, I believe more young players will find their dreams and goals by seeing our achievements."
While studying for a double major in Public Policy and Psychology at Duke University in the United States, Wang Xinying played a key role in helping the school win the NCAA Championship in 2019. She recalled: "During my NCAA days, I got used to facing pressure and multitasking. On the Duke women's golf team, I had some very competitive teammates, and in class, I had elite students from around the world. After training and classes, at the end of the day, I still had homework to do. The pressure I faced every day was no less than playing on tour."
In the early part of her rookie season, Wang Xinying admitted she was fortunate that the first two tour events started in Asia—the Women's World Championship in Singapore and the Blue Bay LPGA in Hainan. Good results in these two events (top 30 in Singapore, top 10 in Blue Bay) helped her build confidence and momentum for the year. She said: "One of the biggest challenges for rookies is that the LPGA can be intimidating and make you feel like you don't belong. Fortunately, I overcame it early in my rookie season."
Wang Xinying attributed her victory to a never-give-up attitude. "There have been countless moments in my golf career that made my heart race. If I had to name one, it would be the birdie on the final hole of the 2024 Epson Tour Championship, which helped me earn my 2025 LPGA card. That birdie was the result of years of not giving up." she said.
After Rory McIlroy won the Masters in April, he sent a message to his daughter: "Never give up on your dreams." Wang Xinying added: "That sentence is simple, but I find it very powerful. His victory and the resilience he showed at the Masters perfectly embody the sport of golf. Even for the most talented players, it is a tough sport. In this sport, always maintain courage and patience."
| Source: Global Times
| Image credit: LPGA official Instagram account; Wang Xinying official Weibo